50 Years of CocoKids

00:00:01: Welcome to the Coco Kids Playbook, a podcast by Coco Kids.

00:00:06: I'm John Jones, executive director of Coco Kids.

00:00:12: Hi and welcome back to Coco Kids playbook.

00:00:15: We just finished our fiftieth anniversary gala And so today i have with me Faith Donathan.

00:00:24: Correct?

00:00:25: Hello!

00:00:26: And Letty Cuisin our part of our development and communications department, was tasked with putting that whole thing together.

00:00:35: So I thought it'd be fun if we're going to share the video with uh...our audience today ...that you guys put together.

00:00:42: but i thought would be fine If We Just Talked a little bit about how hard It Was Putting That Event Together Because A Lot Of Times People Ask Me About I Want To Start A Non-Profit.

00:00:50: How Hard Is It To Raise Money?

00:00:52: And I Thought Oh This is Perfect Okay, so let's start with you Leti.

00:00:56: What was it like putting all that together especially the history piece of it?

00:01:00: You know...you had to do a lot of research because I'm assuming you weren't here fifty years ago.

00:01:03: No!

00:01:04: We were not here fifty-years ago.

00:01:06: So we have to do lots of research and really digging into past documents and artifacts just put together this story about how Kaho Kids was born And why it was born.

00:01:18: more importantly That was a big piece of planning for the Higala site, Of course from the event management part.

00:01:27: that included you know.

00:01:28: The invitations coordinating with the venue most of all getting sponsors.

00:01:34: so we have money to start With and planning For.

00:01:38: how will raise funds during the event itself?

00:01:41: Okay So now when You say artifacts it sounds like We Have A museum here or in Indiana Jones.

00:01:48: What Artifacts Did You Have To Dig Up?

00:01:50: We actually had some articles, old newspaper articles.

00:01:58: We had framed proclamations for what was then the Contra Costa Child Care Council which is what we were called before.

00:02:19: given away, I think by the COHO kids officers to staff or two parents who just enrolled with us.

00:02:27: So there were some a lot of very interesting bits and pieces that we had fun going through.

00:02:39: Okay all right in faith you did all the heavy lifting Right?

00:02:43: Yes she did!

00:02:44: And what most people don't know is this was your first

00:02:48: Yeah.

00:02:50: What was that like for you?

00:02:52: It was awesome, um had no idea how much goes into every single little detail even just securing sponsors really going out of your way to reach every single channel that you possibly can to attend.

00:03:12: It's not just sending one invitation and then, oop everyone comes!

00:03:15: You really have to engage people but also every single detail down to the flowers...the venue....the menu cards.

00:03:28: yeah it was cool to learn all of that.

00:03:31: Yes, at my table we're asking who you were like.

00:03:34: Who's that young woman running around?

00:03:36: I said she is the wedding planner.

00:03:38: Yeah

00:03:38: yeah!

00:03:38: I was all over the place.

00:03:42: yes okay well You guys did a wonderful job putting them together.

00:03:46: if If you are going to advise another organization What would you have told them in and put it together?

00:03:53: an event especially since organizations like ours A lot of them are going to have their fiftieth anniversary.

00:03:59: In fact, I know for a fact there was an executive director from another organization at our event taking notes and writing things down because she's gonna be doing one in October.

00:04:09: so what would you advise this person or anyone who wants do

00:04:21: it?

00:04:21: unless you have the dedication and commitment, really determination to make it work.

00:04:35: As they always say that devil is in details so takes a lot of remembering and tracking, monitoring all the details from the guest list to table assignments.

00:04:47: To silent auction items writing about them marketing them.

00:04:54: we use a lot of social media too to market this.

00:04:58: it just takes alot but I want also say its fun And it's one of the things that I really enjoy most about my job is just really engaging people, bringing a community together to raise funds and help a worthy cause like ours.

00:05:20: Okay in faith what would you recommend?

00:05:23: Yeah i would say start early.

00:05:25: we started a year in advance almost.

00:05:28: Um, I think that helped us but it's still felt like it was coming quick even planning a year out.

00:05:37: And also you're fifty for the whole years.

00:05:39: so plan little things around it not just For The Fundraiser But Even After.

00:05:45: Okay

00:05:46: all right.

00:05:47: well Like i said You Guys Did A Wonderful Job and One Of Your Tasks Was To Create A Video That Was Shown At The Event.

00:05:53: um in...I'm Not Sure Which One Are We Gonna Show?

00:05:55: we had two!

00:05:58: with providers.

00:05:58: Is that the one we're showing?

00:06:00: This is The

00:06:02: Founders, okay so they are original people.

00:06:05: So remind me again who did we honor in our video?

00:06:09: We

00:06:09: honored three of our pioneers and very first executive director Ken Jaffee And then a very staff member Don Lau Our Executive Director for twenty-three years.

00:06:29: Yeah,

00:06:30: it's hard to remember since none of us were there for that.

00:06:33: All right

00:06:35: so we're gonna move along and this is like I said.

00:06:38: we wanted at least introduce what we've been up to um And i think in our second season coming We're hopefully going to transition To more online.

00:06:49: uh guests?

00:06:50: So we'll see how It goes.

00:06:52: but thanks For joining Us and stay tuned for the video.

00:07:04: Fifty years ago, something extraordinary began with something very small.

00:07:10: A conversation?

00:07:11: A shared concern?

00:07:13: A simple powerful belief that every child deserves a strong start and every family deserve support to give it.

00:07:22: Long before policies were written or programs are funded there where people neighbors educators parents advocates who refused to look away from the growing needs of children in Contra Costa County.

00:07:36: They imagined something better, and they built it.

00:07:42: Early Ken Jaffe came up with this idea of child care needs... ...and the importance of educating families about how important it was for child development.

00:07:52: Perhaps if we became a resource that would be more relieved And then we could educate them as well as parents on child development.

00:08:01: We were to defend the position and help the parent, and helped a provider in any way we could.

00:08:10: In the nineteen seventies child care was finding its footing families for juggling work growth uncertainty providers who are doing the best they can often without resources recognition or backing.

00:08:22: so small group came together inform what is then called the Contra Costa Children's Council there with no road map budget was modest office was humble But the commitment was immense.

00:08:34: And then we became the resource, so that pretty soon our phones were ringing left and right because people are going needy in childcare.

00:08:42: they started to trust us.

00:08:44: They start to know who we where.

00:08:45: So than we did get some discussion at city council meetings over there.

00:08:50: I think it's kind of exciting Because the resources referral agencies In the state of California had just received funding.

00:08:58: This is all brand new.

00:09:00: We were to be a resource and referral agency for child care in the community, but also an advocate for children's services.

00:09:09: In The Community they wanted me to go out into the community and bring in other Children's resources and Bring people together so we could share resources like the YWCA, the YMCA And different mental health Services.

00:09:25: I think part of what solid network in the community of childcare providers and children's services.

00:09:35: So folks kind of knew what each other were doing, And they could then share resources

00:09:40: with a staff of six and determination as their greatest asset.

00:09:45: They persevered...they listened

00:09:47: Our referrals to Children.

00:09:50: We're In A Box.

00:09:51: You know The five by seven inch index cards.

00:09:54: Then we had paper maps on the wall.

00:09:56: We Had pushpins On the Maps where all of the childcare was located.

00:10:01: So every time we get a new child care, We put the pushpin

00:10:03: in and

00:10:03: then our um... Of course it's before cell phones or computers.

00:10:07: Everything is handy down.

00:10:09: Everything came from thrift shop My office actually on my closet so I didn't have windows.

00:10:15: It's an interesting period.

00:10:18: They showed up were families needed them most with supplies enrollment help training And hope.

00:10:25: Sometimes they showed upon wheels

00:10:28: probably maybe in the late seventies, that we got this old

00:10:31: school bus

00:10:32: with painted green

00:10:34: and it became

00:10:35: The Green Machine.

00:10:36: And The Green machine was filled with books and educational toys and all kinds of resources.

00:10:43: It would drive through various parts of the county and providers our child care community will know about.

00:10:49: they could bring their kids to check out book's toys or whatever is there might need not have access too.

00:10:57: By the mid-Nineteen eighties, it became clear that work ahead was bigger than any single organization.

00:11:03: In nineteen eighty five community leaders formed a Contra Costa child care task force calling for one strong coordinated vision to support childcare across the county.

00:11:14: in nineteen eighty seven division became reality.

00:11:18: The Contra cost of Children's Council and the Child Care Alliance merged forming the Contra Cost of Child Care Council.

00:11:25: Well, we've seen a dramatic increase in the number of families who actually need to use childcare.

00:11:30: And parents call us when they need child care and we attempt to match them up with programs that seem best meet their needs and make referrals.

00:11:38: What we hope to do over the next ten years is build public will for increased investments in early-care education.

00:11:45: Change Is Never Easy.

00:11:47: As the nineteen nineties unfolded, Child Care was transforming across country.

00:11:52: Children needed more than supervision.

00:11:54: They needed quality early learning, the child care council was ready.

00:11:58: training expanded.

00:12:00: education became accessible.

00:12:01: providers proudly display certificates symbols not just of learning but a dignity and professionalism.

00:12:09: across Contra Costa County I quiet transformation was taking place.

00:12:13: Care became Education support became partnership and Quality became a shared promise.

00:12:19: The State Department of Ed started a grant to help parents find childcare.

00:12:24: Those working parents didn't know where to go, because of Coco Kids they had a number to call and say hey who can I trust my children with when i'm at work?

00:12:35: If you're brand new parent you don't know what to look for!

00:12:38: You know...I'd looked for a lady that gives them a good meal or that keeps them safe.

00:12:42: What kind of discipline does she use?

00:12:48: interactions is she having, does she speak nicely to your child?

00:12:52: So Coco Kids staff stepped in and said we've got a help.

00:12:56: parents ask the right questions.

00:12:58: But The path was never smooth.

00:13:00: like so many non-profits Coco kids weathered years of financial uncertainty.

00:13:05: every dollar mattered.

00:13:07: creativity And commitment kept the doors open.

00:13:11: Then came twenty ten state childcare funding was drastically cut.

00:13:15: Thousands of families lost access to care.

00:13:18: Coco Kids lost nearly two million dollars in operating funds.

00:13:22: The work didn't disappear, the need didn't shrink.

00:13:25: It became heavier.

00:13:27: We just become leaner and meaner.

00:13:30: Staff made sacrifices, programs were reimagined And through it all a simple truth remained Children & Families could not be left behind.

00:13:40: In twenty seventeen...the organization embraced a new name Coco Kids, and a brand new logo.

00:13:46: A name that reflects not just where they work but how they work—a community warmly embracing and caring for each other.

00:13:54: If you look carefully at the logo there's several Cs in their honoring.

00:13:57: The Contra Casa Child Care Council is within that logo But it has to be creative and sweet...but its'there Because Coco Kids have never been JUST an organization.

00:14:08: It Is People standing beside families In moments of challenge transition and growth.

00:14:14: The children supported today become tomorrow's leaders, business owners voters innovators and neighbors.

00:14:21: they are the living legacy of this work.

00:14:23: when people think a child care They think that child goes somewhere And wonderful person takes care them for the full day Then their parents picks him up and take some home?

00:14:31: In reality it is a lot of policies A lot arguing A lot adults trying to figure out what is best way To serve your child.

00:14:40: And if we don't make children first, then it's going to be harder to build a strong foundation and thus for us have a bright future.

00:14:49: And here we are once again at a pivotal moment.

00:14:53: the challenges remain real The need continues to grow So there is lot of work done.

00:14:59: I think that really depends on where you put your child in terms our priorities and values.

00:15:04: Fifty years has shown this Community changes everything Guided by the strength of our past and carried forward, By those gathered here tonight.

00:15:13: The next fifty years of Coco Kids are filled with promise Because when we invest in children We invest in possibility.

00:15:48: This podcast was brought to you by Coco Kids.

00:15:51: Thank You to Letty Cuisin Executive Producer And Faith Donathan Lime Producer.