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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

On April 26, the Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR) School at Cornell University hosted a webinar titled Equity in Focus: Investing in Child Care Careers. Catherine Creighton, director of the ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, served as moderator of the conversation, which featured:

• Lea J.E. Austin, executive director of the (CSCCE) at University of California, Berkeley
• Wendy Chun-Hoon, director of the at the U.S. Department of Labor
• Lindsay McCluskey and Darlene Lombos from , a Boston-based coalition of grassroots community groups and labor unions
• Kimberly Perry, executive director of
• Martine Sadarangani Gordon, senior advisor of
• Erica Crawley, commissioner in Franklin County, Ohio
• Allison Julien, organizing director of , a project of the
• Julie Kashen, director of Women鈥檚 Economic Justice at

Here are our takeaways:

1. Occupational segregation is a longstanding crisis worsened by the pandemic. This term refers to women鈥檚 overrepresentation in sectors (including hospitality, education and health care) that experienced the pandemic鈥檚 worst job losses. 鈥淭he costs of occupational segregation are untenable,鈥� declared Chun-Hoon, blaming 鈥済enerations of underinvestment.鈥�

The Department of Labor鈥檚 recent report dissects the issue and proposes solutions. In his foreword, Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh writes, 鈥淚t is far too common that women work hard and still cannot achieve economic independence in our economy.鈥� Austin decried the and the median wage for roles disproportionately filled by women of color.

2. The American Rescue Plan was a start. Highlighting the $39 billion in new child care funding that鈥檚 going for recruiting, supporting and retaining child care professionals, Gordon underscored the distinction between this infusion of cash and the sustained investment the sector needs.

Thanks to the efforts of , $23 million in Rescue Plan money is going toward early learning scholarships, incentive pay and rental assistance for child care workers in Ohio鈥檚 most populous county. The National Association of Counties (NACO) has been a valuable resource for officials like Crawley.

For Kashen, achieving the sustained funding that Gordon described demands a recognition of child care as a public good, like infrastructure. Among the benefits she cited of adequate investment: $60 billion in reduced business disruptions.

3. It鈥檚 a question of dignity. This is a vital concept to understand, if society is going to pivot from a care quality focus to a job quality focus. 鈥淲hat conditions do educators need to experience dignity?鈥� Austin asked.

Marcia St. Hilaire Finn, founder and owner of Bright Start Early Care and Preschool in Washington, D.C., provided this answer: 鈥淲orkers want to know you care about their needs.鈥�

Another factor is collective power, but organizing is hampered because domestic workers 鈥� including nannies 鈥� are . Julien contended this circumstance, rooted in the history of slavery, subjects them to massive exploitation and highlighted ways her organization is helping through 鈥淜now your Rights鈥� and negotiation training.

4. The labor movement is innovating. McCluskey and Lombos presented , an initiative of Massachusetts Community Labor United. This connects women (especially single moms) interested in construction and hospitality industries鈥攚hich often demand nonstandard work hours 鈥� with a subsidized network of licensed family child care providers. 鈥淎n amazing and diverse coalition of women,鈥� McCluskey said, 鈥渋s demonstrating a vision of a system that supports women and communities.鈥�

5. 鈥淭hose closest to the pain should be closest to the power.鈥� Perry cited this dictum of Representative Ayanna Pressley in her remarks describing recent child care advancements in the District of Columbia 鈥� notably, the of 2018 and the establishment this past February of the . The latter measure increases taxes on affluent Washingtonians in order to boost early educator salaries from $33,000 to $43,000, on average. While giving credit to funders like the and advocacy organizations like the and the , Perry maintained that it has been the steady drumbeat of educator and parent voices that caused one council member to remark, 鈥淢y god, wherever I go, somebody鈥檚 asking me about child care!鈥�

What鈥檚 next for D.C.? Health benefits, including affordable mental health care, Perry said.

Patricia Campos-Medina, Executive Director of the Worker Institute concluded the program with the words: 鈥淎ll work has value, and all work should be dignified.鈥�

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 麻豆精品. Learn more here.