Dear John,

Before I came to work at NWLC, I worked in child care.

My colleagues at the child care center were almost entirely Latina immigrant women. They made barely above minimum wage, despite their critical work and expertise. These teachers brought stability, enrichment, and loving support to the children in their care—laying the groundwork for the thriving future all kids deserve. And because their kids were safe and cared for, the parents and families of these children could go to work—as teachers and nurses, bus drivers and cooks. So many of us can only do our jobs because we have access to this kind of reliable child care. Yet even following a pandemic that has made our dependence on child care all the more obvious—early educators were deemed "essential" during the crisis—families are still struggling to cover its costs while early educators themselves receive poverty-level wages.

But right now, low wages and lack of benefits are pushing many early educators like my former co-workers out of the field, leaving families with nowhere to turn. In many places, child care costs are so expensive that care is completely unaffordable, even for families with more than one income. It’s a devastating situation that is hurting millions of people in this country, and hits women, especially women of color, the hardest.

We can solve the child care crisis. NWLC is working to restore and increase federal child care funding and fighting for fair wages for early educators. You can help support this critical work and all NWLC does to fight for gender justice with your first $5 gift now. Until December 31, every gift will be matched, up to $150,000, so your gift will go even further!

We know access to affordable, reliable child care is one key to building the more just and equitable future we want to see—but it’s far from the only one. NWLC is fighting to protect and expand reproductive rights, keep students and workers safe from sexual harassment, defend LGBTQIA+ students from attacks at school, fight corruption in the courts, and so much more.

We can’t do any of this work without you. Join us with your first $5 gift before midnight on December 31.

It’s probably no surprise that children are my greatest source of hope for the future. That’s why I chose to do this work—so that every child has the opportunity to thrive—and it’s work I can only do because of you, John. I am endlessly inspired by the dedication of NWLC staff and supporters like you to building a better, brighter future for all—thank you.

Sincerely,
Whitney T. Pesek, JD
she/her/hers
Director of Federal Child Care Policy
National Women's Law Center

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