April 4, 2025

Let’s Move Colorado Forward, Together

Meet the statewide director who has partnered with four local organizations to stabilize Colorado’s child care system and make care more affordable so that families can work and businesses can thrive.

From full-day Kindergarten and Universal Pre-K to the creation of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood Education, Colorado has made great strides to ensure every child has access to the early care and education needed for a successful start in life. Still, the rising cost of child care combined with a lack of sustainable funding continues to hold Colorado back from becoming the best place to raise a child, build a career and cultivate a prosperous economy.

To move Colorado forward, Gary Community Ventures, Buell Foundation, David and Laura Merage Foundation and Colorado Gives Foundation have partnered with Susy Bates to lead a statewide initiative designed to stabilize Colorado’s child care system and make care more affordable so that families can work and businesses can thrive.

As Statewide Director of the Move Colorado Forward initiative, Susy will elevate the need for affordable child care and build the public and political support to secure the annual public revenue needed to lower the cost of childcare.

With 18 years of experience designing, managing, and advancing strategic initiatives locally and nationally, Susy brings the expertise and collaborative spirit needed to maximize the potential of Colorado’s children, families, child care educators, employers and communities at large.

Born and raised in Colorado, Susy has committed herself to creating and implementing initiatives that break down barriers to access and foster greater representation in our political systems.

As Susy builds the Move Colorado Forward initiative (website forthcoming), she’ll work directly with leaders from Gary Community Ventures, Buell Foundation, David and Laura Merage Foundation, Colorado Gives Foundation and stakeholders around the state to understand the far-reaching challenges facing our communities as a result of having an underfunded and unaffordable child care system. More importantly, she’ll invite the collective voices of Coloradans anywhere to help shape and advocate for a solution that can benefit Coloradans everywhere.

As funders dedicated to supporting the early childhood community, we couldn’t be more inspired by the early childhood organizations, providers, advocacy organizations, and partners who have spent decades working to improve the early childhood experience in Colorado. Alongside Susy, we look forward to working with you to Move Colorado Forward, together.

If you’re interested in learning more about the initiative, please contact Susy directly at Susy@MoveCoForward.com. To stay updated on the initiative, subscribe to the email list below.

Sincerely,

Steffanie Clothier, Director of School Readiness, Gary Community Ventures
Laura Carlson, Vice President of Programs, Buell Foundation
Sue Renner, Strategic Advisor, David and Laura Merage Foundation
Nazia Hasan, Director of Community Impact + Policy & Advocacy

Let’s Move Colorado Forward, Together

Meet the statewide director who has partnered with four local organizations to stabilize Colorado’s child care system and make care more affordable so that families can work and businesses can thrive.

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