This week marked a significant milestone for Best Beginnings as our Board and Staff members gathered to embark on an exciting journey – the development of a comprehensive three-year plan to guide our future endeavors. This provided us with a valuable opportunity to reflect on our organization’s history, delve deeper into our identity, explore the landscape of early childhood services in Alaska, and envision the path forward.
Engaging in thoughtful conversations, we discussed the critical needs of today’s families, emphasizing the challenges of navigating life’s major transitions – from the journey into parenthood and finding support to navigating child care and the commencement of kindergarten. We acknowledged the pivotal role we all play in advocating for every child’s readiness to succeed in school, recognizing the necessity for increased public investment to meet the basic needs of families and ensure equitable educational opportunities for young children.
We talked about the growth and expansion of the Imagination Library in Alaska – and dreamed about a future where every child has unfettered access to books in their homes where they are read and loved. We explored ideas for our upcoming book publishing project, aiming to enhance diverse representation in children’s literature by spotlighting the people and families who call Alaska home. We examined the well-established links between early literacy programs and improving school readiness across the state, and what we’re doing to make them even stronger by increasing access for families.
The road ahead is filled with significant challenges, and over the next six months, our dedicated team will work to move the priorities we identified into concrete action. These actions will empower Best Beginnings and our valued partners to enhance our efforts in growing readers, building strong families, and engaging with the community. We are committed to keeping you informed as we work towards improving outcomes during the foundational years of a child’s life.
If you share our vision and want to support our cause, our doors are always open. You can contribute to the success of Best Beginnings by making a donation today. Alternatively, consider joining us at the table by becoming a Board Member and actively participating in shaping the future of Alaska’s children. As a public-private partnership, we know it takes a community that values early learning and education working collectively to make a big difference. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families in Alaska.
