A Note from Gayle:

One Year In and the View Ahead

It's been almost a year since I assumed leadership of Wake County Smart Start. I've learned it's an organization that is both well-established and constantly evolving. I knew the work would be meaningful, challenging, and full of opportunity. Our recent Annual Report underscores the value of our partner network and its reach of support.

For example:

  • Nearly 9,000 home visits that brought hope, support, and expertise to the doorsteps of families
  • 16,000 children in early education benefited from quality enhancement services at their centers
  • 1,650 children attended a life-changing year in NC Pre-K, ranked #1 nationally for quality
  • 20,000 families enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
  • 72 local programs used Wake Connections, our online services matching portal, reducing duplication and saving families time

When we tallied the count, over 54,000 young children benefited from WCSS investments in our last fiscal year.

I've spent most of the last year working to get to know you: our supporters, partners, and policy stakeholders. Every conversation has included encouragement to keep moving forward - to work harder and more intentionally for children and families. We heard you and have rolled up our sleeves for what's next.

 

The Look Ahead: What's Changing

The WCSS Board of Directors has adopted a new Strategic Plan that drives priorities for funding programs and system level work. Like many organizations, we have adopted an equity lens to our work and modified key documents to align with this consideration. Equity can mean different things to different people. We invite you to review this definition, created through the state level Pathways Initiative for Grade Level Reading. The new Strategic Plan will take effect in July of 2020.

How will this change what we do? We don't expect this infusion of equity understanding to change what we do, but we do expect it to change how we do it. Stay tuned for more as we continue to deepen our connections with young children, see their conditions of life more clearly, and respond to meet needs effectively.

 

Save the Date for Dolly!

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has distributed over 1,000,000 free books nationwide. Now, a national documentary is being premiered that tells the story of the Imagination Library's success, airing on just 14 screens across North Carolina - including Wake County.

Our special screening of The Library That Dolly Built will be at 7pm on Thursday evening, April 2nd. While the books are for sharing with children, this documentary is geared toward adults who have experienced the magic the Imagination Library brings.

See the trailer here.

However, half of the ticket proceeds from this 7pm showing will go back to the program for purchasing books and brochures!

To purchase tickets, click here.

See you at the movies!

 

We Need YOU!

Photo credit: Natural Learning Initiative, a partner of WCSS

You may have heard that WCSS is a public-private partnership, but do you really know what that means? Per Smart Start founding principles, our public dollars require private funding matches to be fully utilized/fill in gaps in the budget - meaning, the good work being done for children and families in Wake can't happen without support from YOU!

Thanks to each of you who have given to WCSS to ensure no public or private dollar goes unspent because a match was not achieved!

But wait, the work isn't done! Wake early childhood centers still need $104,000 to fully match the healthy initiatives grant that is installing vibrant Outdoor Learning Environments across the county.

Donate and help change the way children eat, play, and learn!

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Questions? Contact us today 919-851-9550