On October 2, 2024, AVANCE, in collaboration with Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors and UnidosUS, hosted a roundtable titled “Building a Brighter Future: Empowering Latino Families through Early Childhood Education” at the AVANCE Carmen P. Cortez Family Center in San Antonio, Texas. The event convened community leaders, parents, and stakeholders to discuss challenges Latino families face in accessing affordable, high-quality early childhood education (ECE).
In Texas, over 40% of the population is Hispanic or Latino, yet many families struggle with ECE affordability, limiting workforce participation. The roundtable emphasized the Latino Infant Initiative (LII) Policy Agenda. It aimed to address systemic barriers and advocate for flexible eligibility requirements in early education programs.
Personal stories highlighted the issue of families becoming ineligible for free childcare due to slight income increases, underscoring the need for policy reforms to support sustained access to affordable childcare.
Learn more about the event and AVANCE’s work on their website here.