Read our full Nurturing Diversity series: 1. Celebrating the Power of Black Caregivers in Early Childhood. 3. County and Public Leadership’s Vital Role in Addressing This Challenge! As
This is the first post in our Nurturing Diversity series. Read the others: 2. Paving the Way for Black Excellence in Early Childhood Education. 3. County and Public
Years ago, we adopted a focus on bringing REDI–Race, Ethnicity, Diversity, and Inclusion–principles to all of our initiatives, communications, and partnerships. REDI initiatives laid the
Joan Didion, a famous author from California, once said, “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” Stories are the first type of parenting support
Our Executive Director here at First 5 San Mateo County, Kitty Lopez, shared her view on the current child care shortage, and how we will
As a new parent or caregiver, you may be wondering how you can best support the social and emotional development of your young child. Professionals
Child care is not just a necessity for working parents; it plays a vital role in our society as the backbone of our economy, enabling
Families, and especially women, must have the protected right and ability to create families if and when they are willing and able. Ensuring that every
Our vision of success for every child means that children should have the opportunity to grow up with security, safety, stability, and respect from the
When so much in the world is uncertain, parents do everything they can to protect their kids from the unknown, and the COVID-19 Pandemic has
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Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2013, focusing on strategic investing, community leadership, policy and advocacy development for young children, 0-5, and their families.
Kitty has served as Co-Chair of the Advisory Body for Build Up for San Mateo County Children’s Initiative, with Board of Supervisor, Dave Pine, since 2018. Congressman Kevin Mullin is Honorary Co-Chair. This initiative was established to preserve, grow, and increase the number of early care sites in San Mateo County.
Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of San Mateo County’s leading Core Service Agencies and safety-net nonprofits serving low-income families and individuals with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2013.
Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in southern California and San Francisco and was a consultant in schools with children who have autism and special needs. Additionally, Kitty worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center in San Francisco and psychiatric hospital for children and youth in San Diego. Kitty’s roots in supporting children began as a 16-year-old volunteer at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles where she taught swimming to children and adults with visual impairments.
She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving as Vice Chair of the San Mateo County Event Center, and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club. She is currently serving as Past President of the First 5 Association of California. On March 2022, Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin selected Kitty Lopez as the 2022 Assembly District 22 Woman of the Year.
