Endorsements
Aaron Brockett
Mayor of Boulder
Alejandra Beatty
President, Boulder Area Labor Council
“Boulder Area Labor Council understands how critically important it is to have quality early childhood services available to everyone. We believe the providers, who care for our children, should have pathways to economic growth, and the Brighter Start initiative has the right program to build a better and inclusive solution for all of us. ”
Anil Pesaramelli
Erie Town Councilmember
“Every thriving community relies on a strong foundation, and that starts with our youngest residents and their families. Access to affordable early childhood education directly impacts our local economy, workforce retention, and overall quality of life. I whole-heartedly endorse this effort to build a brighter future for Boulder County.”
Annmarie Jensen
Lafayette City Council Member
“The child care crisis should not be born by struggling individuals and families. We as a community need to come together to solve it. Children and their families are too important and can't individually solve this. Its a community problem that impacts children, childcare care workers, employers, and most especially women.”
City of Boulder
City of Longmont
Boulder Chamber of Commerce
Claire Levy
Boulder County Commissioner
“It’s time to [fund early childhood education] and make the County we want to make… I’m very strongly in support of this measure!”
David Stewart
President of Boulder Valley Education Association
Debbie Pope
Executive Director, EFAA
“At EFAA, we see every day how hard families are working to build stability and opportunity—and how often the lack of affordable, quality child care stands in their way. Brighter Start Boulder County is an investment in our youngest children, in working families, and in the strength of our entire community. Expanding access to high-quality care, especially for infants and toddlers, will help families thrive today while building a stronger Boulder County for generations to come.”
Diane Trister Dodge
Dodge Family Fund
“The early childhood years build a foundation for children's healthy development and learning. All children deserve and should have access to high-quality child care programs, and the children who benefit most are from families who cannot find and afford these programs.”
Elizabeth Lenski
CEO, Wild Plum
“Brighter Start Boulder County isn’t just about child care — it’s about keeping our entire community running. Child care is an ecosystem, and when one part breaks, the whole network feels it. You get your morning coffee and groceries because the workers have reliable child care. Investing in child care strengthens our workforce, stabilizes families, and supports every corner of Boulder County.”
Eric Hozempa
CEO, Longmont Community Foundation
“We have to help our families and their children succeed. Brighter Start provides a solid foundation for children, strengthens our business environment and keeps our communities thriving.”
Jake Marsing
Longmont Town Councilmember
“Our community faces a moral and economic crisis. Boulder County families pay more for child care than CU Boulder tuition. Educators are underpaid, providers are struggling, and children are missing out. Brighter Start Boulder County offers a locally built solution that helps children thrive, strengthens our workforce, and supports working families. I’m proud to endorse it.”
Janice Marchman
Colorado State Senator
"Too many Boulder County families are doing the math on child care and coming up short, not because they aren't working hard, but because the system hasn't kept up with what care actually costs. Larimer County voters just showed what's possible. I'm endorsing Brighter Start Boulder County because it invests in families, in the educators who care for our kids, and in a stronger start for the next generation."
Jenn Kaaoush
Superior Town Councilmember
Joan Peck
Former Mayor of Longmont
“Child Care is the most important issue facing working families. Boulder County is an expensive county in Colorado. If parents cannot afford child care, both parents will not be able to work, leading to a downward spiral economically.”
Joshua Silberstein
CEO, SVP Boulder County
“We need to support the families that support this community.”
Josie Heath
Community Activist,
Former County Commissioner
“Children growing up in Boulder County deserve a brighter start on learning. Our community benefits from children and families having decent child care.”
Judy Amabile
Colorado Senator
Junie Joseph
Colorado State Representative
“I know that investing in early childhood is one of the smartest investments we can make. Every child deserves a strong start in life. Brighter Start Boulder County will help ensure more children have access to the early learning and support they need to thrive, while strengthening families and our community for generations to come. I am proud to support this important effort.”
Karen McCormick
Colorado State Representative
“Coloradans understand the critical need for child care services that every community needs. It is a cornerstone of a robust society. Here is an opportunity to help Boulder County build a framework to support our families who are our future. I fully support this campaign!”
Kathy Gebhardt
Colorado State Board of Education Member
Katie Wallace
Colorado Senator
Kyle Brown
Colorado State Representaive
Lesley Smith
Colorado State Representative
Lisa Moreno
Executive Director, El Comite de Longmont
Matt Eldred
CEO, TLC Early Learning Collaborative
If we value children as much as we value basic infrastructure in our community like roads, emergency services, and public education, then Brighter Start Boulder County is a no brainer. Vote yes in November!
Marc Cowell
Executive Director, OUR Center
Nicole Speer
Boulder City Council Member
“Early childhood educators are some of the most undervalued workers in Boulder County, even though they make our daily lives possible. Whether or not we personally need childcare, we all rely on people who do, from doctors and first responders to grocery clerks and delivery drivers. When child care providers have stable jobs and incomes, our entire community is stronger, safer, and more resilient.”
Rachel Friend
Former Boulder City County Member
Saul Tapia Vega
Mayor of Lafayette
Scott Firle
Community Leader and Parent
“I have two kids and both needed childcare at 6 weeks - 3 years old. This was seven years ago, and back then childcare was expensive and hard to find. Now, it is even more scarce and expensive. As a community we need to invest in the next generation, this is one step in that process.”
Susie Valdez
Senior Director of Early Childhood Education, Boulder JCC
Suzanne Crawford
CEO, Sister Carmen
“Sister Carmen Community Center is endorsing the Brighter Start Boulder County Campaign because we know that the whole community benefits when families have access to affordable, quality child care. Quality child care supports a child's early development and ensures that parents can go to work.”
Taishya Adams
Boulder City Council Member
“As the co-founder of an early learning center, I know first hand the challenges based by families to meet the learning needs of their children as well as the economic needs of their families.”
Tatiana Hernandez
CEO, Boulder Community Foundation
Tina Marquis
Boulder City Council Member
YMCA
YWCA
Supporters
AB DeLoach, A Better Standard Direction
Adrian Fine
Alexis Rodriguez
Allie Kallmann Wegner
Allison Bayley
Amanda Gibson
Amy Carlough
Amy May, Treehouse Learning
Andrew Burwick
Angela Madura
Becca Pacha
Beth Florez
Board Member Richard Garcia, Early Childhood Council of Boulder County
Bob Braudes
Bob Norris
Breton McNamara
Brian Keegan
Burke Hilsabeck
Carolyn Adkins
Cassandra Barnhart, Indivisible Longmont
Charles Serns
Cheryl Spraetz, AAUW
Chris Coker, YMCA
Cindy O'keeffe, Social Venture Partners
Craig Randall
Curtis Walker
Danette Olinger
David Secunda, Avid4 Adventure
Dr. Jackie Kapushion
Ed Victor, Social Venture Partners of Boulder County
Elena Bacmeister
Elise Silva
Elizabeth Fannon, Aspen Center for Child Development
Emily Flake
Emily Lynn
Erika Cunningham
Genevieve Free, Heart Connections Family Child Care
Genna Hackley, Babysitters of Boulder
Greta Maloney
Holli Chadwick
Isis Burgess
Jack Rosenthal
Jacqueline Copley
Jennifer Jepsen
Jennifer Karowe, TEENS Inc.
Jess Teitelman
Jessica Scott
Joanna Cagan, WOW! Children’s Museum
Johnathan Singer
Joshua Stallings
Judy Fahrenholtz
Karen Stallard, Social Venture Partners
Kaycee Headrick, Early Childhood Council of Boulder County
Kristen Argow, Active Louisville Kids
Kate Hise
Katerina Barbich
Katharine Reece
Kelli Pfaff
Lark Rambo
Laurene Phillips
Leah Morley
Linden Gray
Lindsay Neville
Liz Berube, Child Learning Center
Lorena Ibarra
Louisa Matthias
Lyndsey Chea-Kinnecom
Mardi Moore, Rocky Mountain Equality
Margarita Taylor, Littlest Angel’s Home Daycare
Maria Cristina Lopez De Leon, Bilingual Busy Babies
Marty Fisher, AAUW
Mary Henry
Mary Lynn Neiman
Mary Newell, Boulder Day Nursery
Matt Eldred, TLC Learning Center
Melanie Piazza
Mitch Rosenbaum
Nia Wassink
Nicole Crawford, Wiggles and Giggles Childcare
Nick Robles
Patt Montgomery
Peter Dawson
Phoebe Westwood
Rachel Steele, Alaya Preschool
Ranelle Randles
Rebekah Hartman
Reyn Hedger, Gateway Montessori School
Rick Rohr
Rosa Maria Ramirez, Yeya’s Childcare
Rosario Mendoza, Red de Cuidadoras/ Una Mano Una Esperanza
Rosie Evans, Evans Early Childhood Center
Ryan Schuchard
Sam Case Penman, ScuttleBugs Boulder
Sam Hall, Boulder Journey School
Sarah Alcorn Sharp
Sarah Johnson, Little Victories, LLC
Shakeel Dalal
Shaun Lee
Shela Blankinship
Soledad Diaz, YWCA Boulder County
Stacie Clements, YMCA
Stephen LeFaiver, TEENS Inc.
Steve Callander
Sue Knaus
Susan Moore
Susie Valdez
Tom Briggs
Tom Mahowald