Last week, the City of Birmingham announced a $3.5 million investment in early childhood through Small Magic, the largest municipal investment of its kind in Alabama. This partnership builds on the work already happening across Birmingham and expands what’s possible for our community’s youngest children.
For the past several years, we’ve worked alongside families and childcare providers to strengthen early learning across Birmingham. Through Birmingham Talks and our broader partnerships, we’ve reached thousands of children and seen what happens when support is consistent, practical, and close to home.
Birmingham is now investing in a best-in-class early learning ecosystem, one that supports children across the various places they spend their time: at home, in childcare classrooms, and in the community. It means reaching families earlier, strengthening quality across childcare centers, and making support easier to find and use from the very beginning.
Ninety percent of brain development happens before kindergarten. Those early years shape what comes next for every child. But for many families and childcare providers, support during that time hasn’t always been easy to access. This investment changes that.
In the months ahead, this work will grow across Birmingham. Families will have greater access to early reading and language support, along with new opportunities to connect through community-based playgroups. Childcare providers will have increased access to funding, technical assistance, and quality improvement support.
We’re grateful to the City of Birmingham and Mayor Woodfin for their leadership and partnership, and to the families, providers, and community partners who have shaped this work from the beginning.
We believe Birmingham can be the best place in America to raise a child under five. This investment moves us closer to that future.