Early Learning

What do a group of expressive puppets, a mother-son creative duo, and Early Learning Washington County (ELWC) have in common? They’re all part of a powerful effort to help young children build emotional intelligence, navigate challenges, and get ready for kindergarten - one short video at a time. 

In classrooms and cafeterias across Washington County, the energy is electric. You’ll hear the swoosh of scarves flying through a wind tunnel, the satisfying clatter of magnetic tiles snapping into place, and bursts of laughter as children build train tracks, topple foam towers, and pretend to run their own food cart.

Portland, Oregon - United Way of the Columbia-Willamette’s Early Learning Multnomah recently launched Preschool Marketplace, a website where parents and caregivers can search for publicly funded preschool providers. Preschool Marketplace is a one-stop resource for finding free and reduced-cost preschools in the Portland metro area that best fit the needs of the family and child.

On Monday, May 22nd a parade of diverse families piled through the doors of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry to learn about preschool options and play.

Creating inclusive learning opportunities is inherently a community effort. No one group or person can successfully assimilate the complexities of different cultures from around the world into a single, positive method for educating youth. That’s why we at United Way of the Columbia-Willamette understand and implement a diversity focused lens in all the work we do; it makes us better when we can support the experts and highlight the experiences of those from a diverse array of backgrounds.

As a Lead Community Researcher, Carolina shares her experiences going door-to-door to better understand how the Albina Rockwood Promise Neighborhood Initiative (ARPNI) can serve kids and families.