Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, families weathered unforeseen impacts in stride. In 2021 and 2022, First 5 San Mateo partnered with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to create the Family Story Project and hear about those impacts from families themselves. Through zoom interviews, 40 families from 10 communities shared their experiences and perspectives about the challenges and barriers faced during the pandemic, family and community strengths that helped them overcome obstacles, and families’ hopes & dreams for their children. Read the full report and watch the video below to learn about their stories.
During the project, parents shared what more aligned systems would look like to them. Get the details about their challenges and supports and the investments that families are looking for.
Download this one-pager to read some of the findings from this project.
© 2023 First 5 San Mateo County
Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2012, focusing on policy, advocacy and communications development. Additionally, she is the Chair of First 5 Association of California. Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of the leading safety-net nonprofit agencies serving low-income families and individuals in San Mateo County with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2012.
Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in the Bay Area and in Santa Barbara, 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 in San Diego.
She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving on several community boards including HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County), STEP (Success Through Education Program), and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club.
