As Child Care Resources and now as BrightSpark, we are guided by our mission and values, which inform the decisions we make and the work that we do. Informed by our staff, board, and stakeholders, we decided to revise our mission statement to something clear, concise, and reflective of who we are as an organization: to nurture and sustain child-centered, antiracist early learning communities.
Our new mission statement reflects the heart and soul of BrightSpark Early Learning Services. It reflects who we are and what we do, and each word and phrase was intentionally selected to represent our values and goals as an organization.
“To nurture and sustain” means we recognize a lot of work has yet to be done, and it will never truly be finished. Not only will it take effort to create equitable early learning experiences that uplift kids and families, but it will also take effort to ensure these programs continue to thrive over time.
“Child-centered” is the first descriptor we use, because to us, it is the most important. Everything we do and every decision we make is first and foremost focused on children and their well-being.
“Antiracist” is included in our mission because we believe that without directly addressing the racism and disadvantages children, families, providers, and communities of color face in the early learning system, we will never reach true equity. Without centering antiracism, we will only perpetuate harm against the people of color we serve.
Finally, we use the phrase “early learning communities,” because our work recognizes the breadth of programs and services that children under 5, their caregivers, and their educators need to be successful. As the old saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child,” we are working to make sure that everyone feels empowered to support and uplift the children around them.
To learn more about BrightSpark, including our history, where we are at right now, and where we are going in the future, check out our new About Us page at BrightSpark.org!