The Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy Lab
An initiative of EdTrust-New York and Raising New York
About the Lab
Research shows that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life — the period of time from birth to age three — is when 85% of brain development happens. Therefore, we must support families with very young children to advocate for programs and policies that support their young New Yorker’s development.
The Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy Lab aims to equip a diverse group of parents and caregivers from across New York State with the tools necessary to inform policymakers and advocate for systemic changes that will further support families and their young children. We support the parent cohort by helping them develop skills in policy writing, power mapping, and advocacy strategies to advance equity in their respective communities.Â
The Early Childhood & Policy and Advocacy Lab is an initiative of EdTrust-New York and Raising New York.Â
Meet the Lab Participants
The Parent Leaders span across New York State, with a strong focus on New York City. Our parent and caregiver participants — each with at least one child under age five — have experienced a diverse set of challenges in accessing high-quality, affordable child care, Early Intervention services, and health and development services. Each parent and caregiver’s story is different — and equally important — but they thread together a common theme that highlights how New York State needs to do more to support families with infants and toddlers. Â
Cherriese Bufis
Cherriese is a dedicated advocate for marginalized communities, with a focus on children of diverse abilities, children of color, the Muslim community, and fathers. A devoted mother of five, she comprehends the power of family advocacy. As an avid parent leader, she has been pivotal in combating family separation and gun violence while fostering workforce development through trauma-informed mentorship. She is also the Founder of Diverse Mosaic, a social-emotional learning tool with an African-centered ethos designed to cultivate leadership and cultural pride in children.
Drawing from her personal history as a former foster child, Cherriese understands the systemic challenges children face, making her a passionate and informed advocate. Despite a demanding schedule, she remains committed to various humanitarian efforts, epitomizing community stewardship. Her work has been a beacon of hope, positively impacting countless lives. She joined the Early Childhood Advocacy & Policy Lab to advance advocacy for equitable child care and to learn about resources for developing programs that support young children affected by violence.
Jacqueline Cosme
Through the Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy Lab, Jacqueline aims to deepen her knowledge of resources to better advocate for these resources in the public and private school systems in NYC while supporting parents and young children. Serving parents and caregivers navigating the system as monolingual speakers and understanding their rights to language access and IEPs. She actively educates herself by reading other parents’ stories, asking questions, and collaborating with her partner to advocate effectively. She also works to overcome cultural stigma within her community, helping families understand that accessing support services is beneficial.
Julia Day
Julia is a school psychologist in the Adirondacks region. She faced significant challenges in finding early intervention services for her youngest son due to the rural area where they live. As a professional, Julia has witnessed the lasting impact that the lack of Early Intervention (EI) services can have on children once they enter the public school system.
In 2020, Julia had an amazing birth experience with no medical intervention. Her most recent pregnancy was a complicated twin pregnancy, resulting in one living child and one stillbirth. After her most recent delivery, Julia struggled to find mental health care and support for perinatal loss due to her unique experience. This time around, Julia was hoping for a similar birth as she experienced in 2020; however, after contacting numerous midwives, she found only one two hours away who was willing to attend her birth, but her rate was too high.
Determined to make a difference, Julia became involved with a local parent advocacy group that addresses a range of issues, particularly EI services. She is currently working on an EI cost model through the group. Julia is also training to become a doula in order to provide essential support to mothers in her area. Through her work with the Early Childhood Advocacy & Policy Lab, she hopes to further her advocacy efforts for more midwives and pediatricians in the Adirondack region. She believes there is a significant need for improved prenatal and pediatric care, including more referrals and increased attention to issues like pregnancy loss and postpartum depression.
Georgina Gooden
Georgina’s advocacy journey began when she faced challenges obtaining Early Intervention (EI) support for her son. Georgina faced biases and racism in getting her son EI support and finding a program that matched his needs. Through this process, she learned how to be a strong advocate for her family. This experience inspired her to support other families, ultimately leading to her current role as an ambassador with United for Brownsville. In this role, she helps families enroll their children in Early Intervention and Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) services, with a focus on ensuring Black and Brown children in Brownsville have better access to the support they need. Georgina also serves on the Family Advisory Boards of United for Brownsville and Reach Out and Read of Greater NY.
As a first-generation college graduate and migrant who resides in a low-income community, she understands the systemic challenges these communities face. Participating in the Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy Lab represents another step in her commitment to advancing equity through statewide advocacy.
Georgina holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education.
Krystal Hardy
Krystal was born and raised in New York City and is the mother of a 4-year-old son who is on the autism spectrum. She has worked in social services for several years and serves as a program manager. Additionally, she currently volunteers at her son’s school, assisting the board with developing ideas and providing resources to parents, particularly those focused on special needs.
She is interested in participating in the Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy Lab to deepen her understanding of policy and to become a stronger advocate for families in her community who face challenges in accessing services for children with disabilities.
Quameika Rogers Hudson
Quameika is a single working mother of a Neurodiverse toddler who has profoundly shaped her life’s trajectory. Quameika’s passion and commitment to early childhood education stems from her son’s journey through the early childhood educational programs. During her son’s early years in the Early Intervention program, Quameika was unable to access speech pathologists in her area, which hindered his speech development progress.
Therefore, Quameika understands first-hand how early childhood programs such as Early Intervention and the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) can have a profound impact on a child’s development. She also understands some of the barriers that families of neurotypical children and neurodivergent children are experiencing in their communities that lead to parents leaving the workforce. Such barriers include a lack of speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and affordable child care in communities. She is looking forward to continuing her advocacy with the Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy Lab to better advocate for not only her child but the children and parents of her community.
Quameika has worked in the human services field for over six years, working in governmental agencies such as The Office of Children and Family Services and Child Protective Services. She also has experience working with children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and the aging population. Quameika has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is pursuing her master’s degree in social work.
Shazia Khalid
Shazia’s professional background spans events, staffing, and human resources for SaaS companies, with her most recent experience in a FinTech startup. In these roles, she has leveraged her interpersonal skills and passion for connection to create meaningful impact.
Now, as a first-time mother to her 2.5-year-old son, Atlas, Shazia is dedicated to supporting others in their professional growth and advocating for children’s needs. This commitment inspired her to join the Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy Lab.
A biracial native New Yorker, Shazia grew up in Queens and now resides in Brooklyn. In her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes and exploring new countries.
Kelsie Spears
Kelsie brings the same love and care she has as a mother into all aspects of her work as a musician, nutritionist, and activist, ensuring that every project she undertakes is driven by compassion. As a parent leader in her community, Kelsie is a vocal advocate for early childhood issues and enjoys participating in panels that focus on early childhood advocacy.
Kelsie is a core member of the Parent Association at her church and serves as the Co-Chair of the Single Parent Support Ministry. Additionally, she collaborates with local organizations such as the Cedarmore Corporation in Freeport, Long Island, working to ensure that the voices of both children and parents are heard, validated, and accepted. Kelsie hopes to hone her advocacy skills as a member of the Early Childhood Policy & Advocacy Lab.
For More Information
To connect with these incredible leaders and learn more about their work with the Early Childhood Advocacy & Policy Lab, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jenn O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and Early Childhood Policy, at [email protected]
For media inquiries, please email Elizabeth Chmurak at [email protected]
