We are happy and grateful to announce that Strategies for Children has won an Innovation Award from The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation.

The award recognizes Strategies’ leadership “in advancing meaningful change in early childhood systems across Massachusetts. Through sustained statewide advocacy, the long-running 9:30 Call that connects the field in real time, and the launch of the Policy Pathways Fellowship to support emerging leaders, Strategies for Children lives out its mission to connect people to people, people to policy, and people to power.”

The entire team at Strategies for Children is proud to receive this special recognition from our long-time philanthropic partners at the foundation, and we sincerely thank the foundation’s staff and directors. 

“To us, innovation means honoring lived experience, and making sure people who work with children and families everyday are involved in making policy,” Amy O’Leary, Strategies’ executive director explains. “Everyday we are asking, How can we make new connections in this field to help strengthen systems for families and early educators? And we’re not just asking ourselves: we’re asking families, early childhood professionals, program directors, researchers, policymakers, healthcare providers, and anyone else with thoughtful ideas.”

“A key part of being innovative for us is asking, listening, and working together in increasingly larger ways.”

Last year, Strategies’ initiatives reached thousands of individuals in the early childhood community, and we engaged policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels. Now, in 2026, this work continues as we lead advocacy and policy efforts to sustain the high-quality early education system that young children, families, and educators deserve.

We already have a busy year lined up! thWe are eagerly awaiting Governor Healey’s Fiscal Year ’27 state budget proposal this month. We continue to grow our list of Early Childhood Agenda partners, support our Advocacy Network, and of course continue The 9:30 Call and The 9:30 Calls in Spanish and Portuguese. We’re also getting ready to celebrate our 25th anniversary. 

Please join us! Check out our website for more information on our initiatives, and hop on Zoom to join The 9:30 Call!