In May, QUALITYstarsNY participating program Lois Campbell & Yates Daycare hosted New York City Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar for a visit to their Group Family Day Care in the Bronx, NY. After working with Almanzar and her team previously to address issues they were experiencing within the pre-k system, the program invited the Deputy Mayor to visit their program to see the impact of her support and experience their commitment to inclusive, high-quality care firsthand.
During her visit, program leaders and staff had the opportunity to discuss a range of topics, including the importance of high-quality early childhood education, family engagement, and the unique needs of smaller programs serving high-need populations.
As a QUALITYstarsNY participant since 2023, program leaders shared how their partnership and work with QUALITYstarsNY has strengthened their teaching practices, classroom environments, and program leadership. The program’s QUALITYstarsNY Quality Improvement Specialist Carol Holness Robinson also joined for the visit.
In addition to connecting with staff, the Deputy Mayor joined in the fun with the children throughout the day. Engaging with the children with enthusiasm and warmth, Deputy Mayor Almanzar played hopscotch, joined them for snack time, and spoke with several students during classroom activities. The children had a wonderful time playing and learning with the Deputy Mayor and having her visit their daycare program made them feel seen and celebrated.
“The visit was deeply meaningful—it affirmed our work and commitment to providing children with a strong educational foundation. We shared our journey from operating out of a family home to expanding into a larger center, while maintaining a nurturing, personalized approach rooted in love, structure, and community values. We also spoke about the challenges smaller providers face, especially regarding funding and visibility, and how partnerships like QUALITYstarsNY help elevate and sustain us.”
– Janet Yates, Operations Manager and co-owner of Louis Campbell & Yates Daycare
Hosting the Deputy Mayor affirmed for program leaders that high-level city officials like Almanzar genuinely care about the work they’re doing in early childhood education. Her visit reinforced the value of small programs like Lois Campbell and Yates Daycare and left them inspired to continue advocating for the support and resources needed to help every child thrive.
