Empowered gathered stories from parents, home-based providers, advocates, and community partners in Grand Junction and Colorado Springs, capturing the challenges families face and the people sustaining early childhood education. Hear their stories below:
Child Care Stories
McKayla Bieser shares how Plateau Valley District 50 supports young children and families through early childhood education, specialized services, and community outreach.
McKayla Bieser, Early Childhood Education Director shares how her rural community secured a second BEST grant and chose to invest in a new preschool-through-12th-grade school, expanding local education and childcare opportunities.
McKayla Bieser, Early Childhood Director at Plateau Valley District 50 shares how the district brings its ranching heritage into the classroom through hands-on agricultural learning and a close-knit school community.
After struggling to find child care in rural Colorado, Stephanie Bivins, a former educator turned her experience into a broader effort to expand access to quality care and support for families and teachers.
Stephanie Bivins from Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families discusses how childcare access affects families, local businesses, workforce stability, and the wider Colorado economy.
Stephanie Bivins, Executive Director of Mesa County Partnership for Children and Families provides an overview of the county’s progress toward expanding childcare access and early childhood supports.
Megan Alfaro, mother of eight, tells how she started Colorado Baby 18 years ago because she couldn't find cloth diapers locally. She grew it into a Main Street shop and a community hub where local moms and families feel seen and supported.
After nearly 30 years in early childhood education, Aspen Nichols turned to in-home care when post-COVID staffing shortages closed the preschool she directed. Today, she runs All About Children Daycare (ABCD on E) with her family. The work is expensive and hard, but she says the hugs and the "aha" moments make it all worth it.
Aspen dropped out of high school when she got pregnant. With quality childcare from Head Start, she earned her GED and a full-tuition scholarship, and she now owns All About Children Daycare (ABCD on E).
Aspen Nichols, a Mesa County home childcare provider describes daily calls from families looking for infant care, with an estimated one spot for every 30 infants. Her own waitlist is two and a half years long, and she talks about what the CCAP freeze is costing both families and providers.
Megan Alfaro, mother of eight, tells how she started Colorado Baby 18 years ago because she couldn't find cloth diapers locally. She grew it into a Main Street shop and a community hub where local moms and families feel seen and supported.
