Southeast Children’s Fund Inc.

CDA Now, CDA for the Future! Thanks Kamren Rollins for supporting early educators and representing them! Join me and Kamren in advocating for more support for educators seeking the CDA! Southeast Children’s Fund Inc. The Council for Professional Recognition

Earlier this month, our Interim CEO, Kamren Rollins, testified before both the Committee of the Whole and the Committee on Human Services, advocating for stronger support for early childhood education in DC. He called for an increase in the child care subsidy amount and continued investment in workforce development programs like DC LEAD—because quality education starts with a well-supported workforce. At Southeast Children's Fund, we remain committed to championing policies that uplift early educators and the families they serve. Watch the highlights from Kamren’s testimony and join us in pushing for a brighter future for early childhood education! #ECE #WorkforceDevelopment #SCF #DCLEAD #ChildCareMatters

I am honored to have joined the Board of the #SoutheastChildrensFund along with other committed individuals who seek to continue investing and supporting our youngest DC residents and the people they educate them. Please learn more about them below and reach out should you want to learn more about how to support this organization financially and otherwise. Like many nonprofits, cuts in funding hit hard and we can't afford to lose any educators. I look forward to supporting Kamren Rollins and his team furst grow and develop SFC! Southeast Children’s Fund, Inc. is a nationally recognized and accredited 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has served young children (ages 6 weeks to 5 years), their families and the professionals who work with them for 28?years. The organization is committed to providing quality programs rooted in current research and effective practices in early childhood education. https://lnkd.in/exbtQFAA

? Exciting News! ? We are delighted to welcome Lee Granados to the Southeast Children’s Fund Board of Directors! With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit management, event strategy, and fundraising, Lee has a proven track record of driving organizational growth and expanding community impact. As the Principal of The Granados Group, she has led strategic initiatives for renowned organizations such as Special Olympics International, Habitat for Humanity, and HumanitiesDC, fostering partnerships that maximize brand awareness and revenue. Lee’s expertise in strategic planning, development, and change management has been instrumental in securing funding, enhancing donor engagement, and executing large-scale events. Her commitment to community building is evident through her leadership roles with Playworks DC, LighthouseDC, and The Way Home Campaign. We are thrilled to have her passion and expertise guiding our mission. Please join us in welcoming Lee to the SCF family! #Leadership #NonprofitExcellence #CommunityImpact #BoardofDirectors #SoutheastChildrensFund #StrategicGrowth #EducationAdvocate

? Exciting News! ? We are thrilled to welcome Celika Caldwell to the Southeast Children’s Fund Board of Directors! Celika is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in customer experience, strategy, and business transformation, having worked with Fortune 500 companies and technology startups. Currently, she serves as Group Vice President, Head of Customer Experience Programs at Oracle, focusing on improving global SaaS customer support and satisfaction. Beyond her corporate success, Celika is deeply passionate about expanding educational access and career pathways for underserved youth. She has dedicated her time to nonprofit board service, including New Consortium School, Memphis Prep, and Taste of Aviation. With an MBA from Stanford University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT, Celika brings strategic expertise and a strong commitment to equity in education. We are excited for the impact she will bring to our mission and the communities we serve. Please join us in welcoming Celika to the SCF family! #Leadership #EarlyChildhoodEducation #CommunityImpact #BoardofDirectors #SoutheastChildrensFund #EducationAdvocate #EquityInEducation #FutureLeaders

? Exciting News! ? We are thrilled to welcome Celika Caldwell to the Southeast Children’s Fund Board of Directors! Celika is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in customer experience, strategy, and business transformation, having worked with Fortune 500 companies and technology startups. Currently, she serves as Group Vice President, Head of Customer Experience Programs at Oracle, focusing on improving global SaaS customer support and satisfaction. Beyond her corporate success, Celika is deeply passionate about expanding educational access and career pathways for underserved youth. She has dedicated her time to nonprofit board service, including New Consortium School, Memphis Prep, and Taste of Aviation. With an MBA from Stanford University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT, Celika brings strategic expertise and a strong commitment to equity in education. We are excited for the impact she will bring to our mission and the communities we serve. Please join us in welcoming Celika to the SCF family! #Leadership #EarlyChildhoodEducation #CommunityImpact #BoardofDirectors #SoutheastChildrensFund #EducationAdvocate #EquityInEducation #FutureLeaders

??? Today, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science! ??? Southeast Children’s Fund honors the brilliance, innovation, and resilience of women and girls in STEM. Their contributions from the classroom to the laboratory shape the future and inspire the next generation of changemakers. A special shoutout to Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space! ???? Her achievements remind us that the sky is not the limit—it's just the beginning. Let’s continue to break barriers, champion diversity, and create pathways for more young girls to explore the wonders of science. ?????? Tag a woman in STEM who inspires you! ?? #WomenInScience #GirlsInSTEM #STEMEducation #SoutheastChildrensFund

?? Today, on International Day of Education, Southeast Children's Fund celebrates the transformative power of education in shaping brighter futures! ?? Since 1994, SCF has been at the forefront of the Early Childhood Education field, empowering young learners and supporting the dedicated early educators who make a lasting impact. From classrooms in DC to communities beyond, we remain steadfast in our work to advocate for, uplift, and equip early educators with the tools and resources they need to nurture the next generation. ?? Education is the foundation of opportunity, and together, we can ensure every child receives the quality early education they deserve. Join us in celebrating the educators, leaders, and changemakers who champion education every day. Let's continue working towards a brighter future for all! #InternationalDayOfEducation #EarlyChildhoodEducation #EducationMatters #SoutheastChildrensFund

Empowering Men in Early Childhood Education This past Saturday, Southeast Children’s Fund, in collaboration with DC Men in ECE hosted the Men in ECE Undergraduate Affinity Luncheon. Led by the inspiring Maurice Sykes author of "Doing the Right Thing for Children," and SCF COO Kamren Rollins, the event brought together leaders from schools, childcare facilities, institutions of higher education, and undergraduate students. Maurice Sykes, a nationally recognized leader in early childhood education and a DC Hall of Fame inductee, shared invaluable insights from his decades of experience advancing high-quality early childhood programs and services. The luncheon sparked powerful discussions about strengthening workforce diversity, building leadership pathways, and addressing equity in early education. We’re excited about the partnerships formed and the meaningful initiatives to come. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this impactful event. Together, we are paving the way for transformative change in early childhood education. Stay tuned—amazing things are on the horizon! #EarlyChildhoodEducation #MenInECE #Leadership #SoutheastChildrensFund #WorkforceDevelopment #CommunityImpact

I was delighted to moderate a panel at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and EPIC, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children National Child Care Innovation Summit on how business leaders can advocate for quality early childhood education in communities across the country. Having spent a decade and a half in the corporate sector before joining NAEYC, I often find myself highlighting to business leaders the economic value of investing in child care. Thank you to my outstanding panelists Ellicia Lanier, Dr. Calvin E. Moore, Jr., Erica Phillips, and Lucy Recio for sharing innovative models and highlighting the critical role of the early education workforce!