Open Letter to Persimmon Early Learning Donors

October 29, 2024

Dear Persimmon Early Learning Donors,

I want to start this statement with an introduction about myself. My name is Any Chacon Ortega, and I was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico. In 2004, I came to this beautiful country as an immigrant, hoping to fulfill my passion for education. I came to this country with many dreams and a vision for my future. Visions that would provide stability, success, and a good foundation for myself and my family. I envision a future of success in my ongoing education as this is an essential value in the life I want to teach my children. This path has not been easy. It has been especially hard for a woman of color like me. When I first arrived in this country, I didn't speak the language or know the culture and system. At the time, I made it to my goal to learn to speak English, and from that moment on, I decided to go to college. I was the first in my family to attend college and learn English. Earning my bachelor’s degree was a great accomplishment. I earned it despite the challenges life threw at me. I worked full-time and attended school while utilizing English as my second language. I overcame these obstacles with determination.

This county is built on many immigrants, and many have lacked the chance to finishing a career. Their main goal is to work and provide for their families. In other words, to get money. The idea of the “American Dream” often comes with a price. It is not just about working and sending money to our native countries. It is also about getting a solid and valuable education. This ensures that we, as immigrants, can also obtain a high level of education. For many families, especially families of color, this is hard. The number one challenge is affordable daycare. I have two beautiful girls. Roseny is six years old, and Marlie is three.

In 2018, I got pregnant, and I had a little bit of panic. The same year, while on maternity leave from my workplace, I applied for a promotion within my team. I was unsure about doing it, knowing the responsibility that this would bring to my life and having no daycare for my baby. I decided to pursue this, and I got the job. As a full-time mom, I didn’t qualify for CCAP due to my new income. Family members could not help as they have their own work and responsibilities. I had to start looking for sustainable daycare. I was not successful. Most people I knew who would support me with daycare were unreliable and often unavailable, although I paid for their service. I checked daycare prices close to my workplace and in my living area, it was insane to be able to pay for full-time daycare. It was almost paying for a home mortgage. It was going to take half of my paycheck to be able to access a full-time daycare for one child. I was getting frustrated and thinking of how I was going to leave my baby with strangers or people who may not care about Roseny. As new mother I had anxiety due to not knowing what to do with Roseny’s care. I wanted to quit my job, which I loved and fought for many years. Especially when a woman of color is in a leadership role, you do not see this often in my workplace. Again, I wanted to resign. One day, when I was looking for affordable daycares around my workplace, I noticed a drop-in center. I started looking and decided to go to the YWCA for more information. This was before the pandemic.

The drop-in program was an excellent resource for me and my situation, as I could not afford full-time daycare as an option. The price and the flexibility around my schedule have made it possible for me to continue my work. Giving parents like me the opportunity to have a schedule that meets my needs or other parents' needs was something I couldn’t believe could happen. Also, the fact that my Roseny was going to be close to my workplace and would not only be cared for but in a learning, environment was very impactful for me. My previous daycare supporters would not spend time with her or play or connect with Roseny. These days, when the world is not in a good place, connecting, playing, and listening to our kids is essential. I also think that affordable or subsidized daycare should be available to support the US workforce. A strong daycare center will always make a difference in parent’s lives. Creating a partnership and support around our children is fundamental. I thought as a Mexican, I would never be able to access a daycare center like the YWCA. Why? Because of my race and my economic status. Marlie is my second child attending daycare; I got a two-day contract and will still use drop-in. This impacted my working life in many positive aspects. I was able to work towards another promotion position, knowing Marlie and Roseny have a place where they are being cared for, valued, and respected. I want to thank all the staff members from all the rooms because I couldn't have made my working life possible without them. The staff members in the lobby, especially when there is a bilingual front desk person, has made me feel welcome. I love to speak the language of my heart, and it is Spanish.

Thank you for reading my story, as it is very important and makes me vulnerable to you. It is important that you continue to support Permission Early Learning with your financial contribution. Your help makes a huge difference for families like mine and the center’s workforce. There are many parents out there who will not have the privilege to afford daycare or know how to advocate for daycare resources. Implementing affordable and flexible daycare programs could make a positive impact on diverse communities and families.

With so much respect,

Any Chacon Ortega