New year, new opportunities

Happy New Year!

We truly hope that you enjoyed the holiday season with loved ones and that you made time for some self-care. If there is one thing that is consistent, it is change. A change to a new year brings with it a sense of optimism, hope, and motivation to get things done. It is also a time for reflection, and at the Council, our staff is always thinking about the amazing things that child care providers do every day to support families in Denver.

This work is rewarding, but we also recognize that it can be exhausting. We hope that this new year motivates you to prioritize your self-care physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you need some ideas, we are sharing this Self Care Wheel to consider. We have found that it helps to have some “go-tos” for self-care when you can make an extra five or ten minutes in your day. The wheel offers some prompts and a blank template that you can fill in with your own ideas. Do what works for you.

We are returning from our holidays well-rested and ready to go, and we are looking forward to another great year of serving our providers in Denver and beyond! We have recently hired a Community Engagement Specialist, Dr. Anisa Ben Idris, who will be making connections with people who are providing FFN (Family, Friend, and Neighbor care) in Denver. We’ll be hosting events and doing some great trainings that will spark creativity and spread ideas through this group of providers.

We have a new board member, Abby Vorenberg, and we are currently accepting additional applications for our Board of Directors. If you are interested in lending your perspective and have experience in finance, law, or fundraising, and/or experience in the domains of mental health, FFN, and home care, we want to hear from you!

Additionally, we are very much looking forward to the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference on March 6th and 7th at the Denver Marriott Tech Center. We are thrilled for this great conference and it is going to be the best yet! There are still spots available, so register today.

We will also be co-hosting the ECE Career and Resource Fair in partnership with Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County on March 21st. This will be a great opportunity to connect job seekers with providers and resources, so don’t miss it! And, please mark your calendars for our Spring Social on April 24th. It promises to be a casual evening of fun, socializing, and fundraising to further the mission of Denver’s Early Childhood Council.

As we go into 2025, please remember that we are here to serve you. You inspire us every day and we are honored to support you in all that you do!

All the best,

 

Shelby Mattingly, CEO & the staff at Denver’s Early Childhood Council