Join us for a panel discussion and community conversation to create a collaborative vision for inclusive, equitable, climate-resilient, universal early childhood education and care in Multnomah County and beyond.
PANELISTS:
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici:
Advocating for Universal Child Care at the Federal Level
Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson:
Why Multnomah County's Preschool for All Should be a Model for the Nation
Andrea Paluso, The Child Care for Every Family Network:
How State and Local progress Can Galvanize Federal Action
Dr. Connie Ozawa, PSU Urban Studies & Planning:
The Policy Context for a Climate-Resilient Child Care System
Panelist bios below
We will generate ideas for policy priorities that could help ensure the success of Preschool for All, build on this exemplary program, and point the way toward a strong national child care system, essential to the economic stability of working families.
→ Register here to attend the event remotely
PANELIST BIOS:
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici has represented the First Congressional District of Oregon since February of 2012. Strengthening public education is one of Suzanne's top priorities. She is a leader on the Education and Labor Committee and has worked hard to improve federal policies on early childhood education and care. Rep. Bonamici is honored to serve on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, where she will fight for comprehensive policies that mitigate the effects of climate change, strengthen the economy, and protect our planet for future generations.
Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson has served on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners since elected in 2016. As Commissioner, Jessica led work on Preschool for All, which voters passed in November 2020 to provide universal preschool for children in Multnomah County. She also sits on several regional transportation committees and champions legislation on environmental justice, climate and air quality. Before being elected to the Board, Jessica served as a State Representative in the Oregon legislature where she was the first Latina elected to the House.
Andrea Paluso is the Co-Director of the Child Care for Every Family Network, working to build a national child care system with equitable, universal access to child care to support thriving children and families with a diverse, mixed delivery, well-paid, well-supported workforce. She was previously the Executive Director of Family Forward Oregon and Family Forward Action, where she helped to lead state campaigns for affordable child care, paid family & medical leave, equal pay, increasing the minimum wage, paid sick time, pregnancy accommodation, protections against workplace discrimination, reproductive health care access, and more.
Dr. Connie Ozawa recently retired from Portland State University where she was a faculty member in the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning for 28 years. She is a specialist in environmental planning and policy, planning theory and collaborative governance. Most recently her research has focused on climate change, as well as mitigating and adapting to natural hazards. Her work includes numerous journal articles, and authoring and editing three books, Recasting Science, The Portland Edge, and Planning the Pacific Northwest.