Judy Blumenthal of Early Starters USA describes trauma-informed language support

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Good afternoon, Chair Gutierrez and members of the subcommittee.

My name is Judy Blumenthal, and I am the Pedagogic Director of Early Starters USA.

We run early childhood safe spaces in four of the five boroughs for young children and caregivers, including newly arrived families living in New York City shelters.

Through play, consistent relationships, and trauma-informed care, our educators help children feel safe, learn, and build resilience, supporting their school readiness.

We also train mothers from the communities we serve to work in our spaces and pursue careers in early childhood education.

Many of the children in our spaces only speak Spanish at home.

When a young child enters a new setting, hearing a familiar language helps them feel safe, connect with an educator, and express what they need.

But language carries more than words.

It carries a family's stories, traditions, and ways of caring for one another.

When we speak with children and families in their home language, we learn what comforts a child, what they enjoy, and what matters to their family.

We can bring that understanding into our work and show the children that their culture and heritage are welcomed and respected.

Parents can ask questions and take part in their child's learning.

Children can build confidence in their home language while they begin to learn English.

Chair Gutierrez, thank you for recognizing the importance of home language support in Resolution 650.

We fully support the resolution's opposition to the proposed English-only requirement for heads.

What you describe is what we see in our spaces.

Children learn best when their home language is valued, and we appreciate that none of this is new to you, Madam Chair, and that you emphasize and understand this issue better than most, being a bilingual mother yourself.

Programs need multilingual educators, interpretation for families, and training that helps staff support young children across languages and culture.

Community organizations that already have trusted relationships with families can help the city reach children who might otherwise be missed.

We urge the council and Mary Mom Dani to invest in community-based programs like ours that reach multilingual young children and their families, including families living in shelters.

Every child deserves to be welcomed in a language they understand, with their culture and heritage respected.

Every parent deserves to be a full partner in their child's early learning.

Thank you.