Join us for a panel discussion
Through our Voices community conversations, one message has been clear: childcare in the Hudson Valley is increasingly scarce, expensive, and strained—yet it is a foundational, often overlooked, piece of our regional economic infrastructure. When families cannot access reliable care, workforce participation drops, talent pipelines weaken, and economic growth is constrained.
This program reframes childcare as a workforce and economic development imperative, examining its direct connection to labor force participation, talent retention, education pathways (including programs like the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (TAP)), and early learning outcomes such as kindergarten readiness. It is designed to move beyond diagnosis toward cross-sector solutions that strengthen both family stability and regional competitiveness.
Co-hosted by Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) and Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC)
Presenters
Opening Remarks
- Geraldine Laybourne, Co-Founder, Day One Early Learning Community
- Laura Washington, President & CEO, CFHV
- Sarah Lee, Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, HVEDC
Moderator
- Jill Gomez, Executive Director, Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet
Panelists
- Sabrina Jaar Marzouka, JD, MPH, Commissioner, Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services
- Madeline Henriquez, Executive Director, Day One Early Learning Community
- Chris White, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Upward Mobility, State University of New York (SUNY)
Photo: Day One Early Learning Community
