Expand Economic Opportunity
Addressing barriers to financial stability
Almost one-third of Marin residents live paycheck to paycheck, just to make ends meet and cover basic needs. For people of color, that figure exceeds 55%. While Marin’s high cost of living creates a financial challenge for many local residents, it is those of lowest income who face the largest barriers to economic stability and opportunity.
Early childhood teachers are among the most underpaid professions in our community and across the country. When all occupations are ranked by annual pay, childcare workers remain near the bottom, with preschool teachers only slightly above them. There are also sizable disparities within the field, depending on where someone works. A preschool teacher in the Bay Area making an average salary of $51,500 in a community setting could earn nearly $85,000 teaching transitional kindergarten in a school setting. And according to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley, compared to their peer teachers in the K-8th grade system, early educators are 7.7 times more likely to experience poverty.
Caregiving sits at the intersection of racial and economic justice
The roles of caregiving have historically been and continue to be held by women of color. These roles have been undercompensated compared to similar positions in other fields, and it continues to this day, harming the individuals working in these roles and their families. Adding further harm on a systemic level, the state and federal funding streams that support early childhood programs perpetuate this structural pay inequity.
Investments in early childhood educators have widespread benefits
Changes to the way we view and compensate early childhood educators are needed to address historical inequities and leverage the immense contributions they make to our families and communities. We can build a system of early care and education that works for children and families and supports our economy without it being at the expense of the early childhood workforce. Increasing the wages of early childhood educators to achieve pay equity with K-12 educators is not only fair, but it also has positive ripple effects on the rest of society.
Being there for families, like Maria Pech’s, when they need us most.
Learn more about our advocacy efforts to advance economic opportunity:
- Community Action anti-poverty advocates take to Sacramento
- Community Action Marin is pleased to serve on Marin’s Racial Equity Action Plan Implementation Team, which includes actions focused on increasing the local minimum wage and microenterprise support
Poverty is the result of policy choices. When we meet people and hear stories of those experiencing poverty, we see that it is our policies and systems that are failing, not individuals or families. From that shared understanding, we can craft meaningful solutions and take action together to ensure everyone can live a life of dignity and respect.
Gina Guillemette
Chief Strategy Officer