Early Education & Care: Building a Stronger Foundation

Early Education & Care: Building a Stronger Foundation

At this year’s State of the City address, Mayor Jon Mitchell announced a major step forward for New Bedford’s youngest learners: the creation of a new leadership position to coordinate a citywide early education and care system. This effort aims to bring together schools, providers, and community partners under a more unified, integrated approach.

The Mayor who also serves as a trustee of the United States Conference of Mayors has taken on a national leadership role as co-chair of the Early Childhood Education Taskforce alongside Mattie Parker, Mayor of Fort Worth, TX. Locally, he has asked United Way of Greater New Bedford (UWGNB) to help coordinate this work.

UWGNB has long been engaged in early education and care, working closely with the local Birth–3rd Grade Partnership to support families and providers across the region. These collaborations have laid the groundwork for a more connected system that supports children from their earliest years through elementary school.

Last spring, UWGNB convened local leaders for a learning tour of the Capuano Early Childhood Center in Somerville. While this community has many parallels to New Bedford, Somerville’s approach includes one of the original Children’s Cabinets, a model designed to strengthen coordination across schools, city government, and community organizations.

Participants included representation from New Bedford Public Schools, City of New Bedford, local providers, and statewide advocates. The visit offered a firsthand look at how cross-sector collaboration can align resources and improve outcomes for children and families.

As New Bedford builds its own coordinated early education system, these experiences are helping shape a shared vision for what’s possible. With strong leadership, community partnerships, and a commitment to alignment, the city is taking meaningful steps toward ensuring every child has a strong start.