Build Up San Mateo County

08/27/2026

Child care belongs in the conversation about women’s equality. 💜

Build Up SMC Director Christine Padilla was proud to join local women leaders for a Women’s Equality Day screening of No Country for Mothers and a conversation about what it truly takes for mothers and families to thrive.

Child care facilities are essential infrastructure. Without safe, accessible places for children to learn and be cared for, families cannot thrive and women cannot fully participate in our workforce and communities.

Thank you Councilmember Ellen Kamei and Angelica Ramos, President of the National Women’s Political Caucus of California, for the important conversation, and Mountain View Mayor Emily Ann Ramos for the warm welcome.

Build Up SMC loves working with our neighbors in Santa Clara County to strengthen our regional efforts for children, families, and child care providers.

08/26/2026

Such a great celebration of Kitty Lopez and her incredible impact at First 5 San Mateo County! 💙

Thank you, Kitty, for being such a champion for Build Up SMC from day one. Having you as an advocate and trusted source of advice has meant the world to us and to our work.

Wishing you all the best as you begin your much-deserved “preferment” — doing what you prefer, all day, every day! ☀️🌊

First 5 San Mateo County 👏🏽

08/10/2026

Build Up SMC attended Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action Summit (https://www.svyouthclimateaction.org/) on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino, CA. The day was packed with youth voices, elected officials, and community leaders and focused on climate action. Cities and community-based organizations throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties are doing a lot to combat the negative impacts of climate change. There is a strong focus on bringing together all generations to spearhead and participate in policy change and advocacy for climate-resilient policies and actions. Build Up SMC was there to bring awareness to early learning and child care and our San Mateo County Early Childhoood Climate Action Plan: https://www.buildupsmc.org/climate-resiliency-action

06/30/2026

⏰ There’s still time to register!

Join us today for Powering Child Care Facilities: Energy Efficiency Savings and learn about programs that can help your child care program save money, improve indoor air quality, and create healthier spaces for children and staff.

Whether you’re a child care center or a home-based family child care provider, this free webinar is for you!

🗓 Today
🕔 5:00–6:00 PM
💻 Virtual

Register now: tinyurl.com/poweringchildcarefacilities

🌳 Healthier spaces. Lower costs. Climate-ready child care.

Join us to learn about energy efficiency programs and resources available to help child care providers save money while improving air quality for the children and families they serve.

Whether you're a child care center or a home-based family child care program, this event is for you!

💡 Powering Child Care Facilities: Energy Efficiency Savings
🗓 June 30 | 5:00–6:00 PM | Virtual

Register today: tinyurl.com/poweringchildcarefacilities

San Mateo County Sustainability Department

06/27/2026

🎓 Congratulations to the Footsteps Preschool Class of 2026!

It’s always inspiring to celebrate our youngest graduates and the dedicated educators who help them thrive. High-quality child care and early learning environments lay the foundation for lifelong learning, healthy development, and strong communities.

Best wishes to the Class of 2026 as they take their next big step! 🎉




👏🏽 Footsteps Child Care

06/23/2026

🌳 Healthier spaces. Lower costs. Climate-ready child care.

Join us to learn about energy efficiency programs and resources available to help child care providers save money while improving air quality for the children and families they serve.

Whether you're a child care center or a home-based family child care program, this event is for you!

💡 Powering Child Care Facilities: Energy Efficiency Savings
🗓 June 30 | 5:00–6:00 PM | Virtual

Register today: tinyurl.com/poweringchildcarefacilities

San Mateo County Sustainability Department

06/13/2026

Excited to share a new op-ed co-authored by Mountain View City Councilmember Ellen Kamei and Build Up SMC Director Christine Padilla on why child care must be part of our housing, planning, and infrastructure conversations.

Across the Bay Area, communities are recognizing that child care is essential infrastructure. From Mountain View’s recent zoning updates to South San Francisco’s Child Care Master Plan, local leaders across the region are advancing child care through planning, facility investments, development partnerships, and innovative policies. Efforts are underway in communities including Redwood City, San Mateo, San Carlos, Daly City, and beyond to better integrate child care into housing, economic development, and community growth.

As communities continue to add housing and welcome new families, we must ensure child care is planned for alongside the infrastructure that helps communities thrive.

Special thanks to Councilmember Ellen Kamei for her partnership on this piece, Senator Josh Becker for his leadership on AB 1914, and Build Up California - Early Learning Facilities and the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), official sponsors of the bill. Through statewide advocacy, coalition building, committee testimony, and partnerships with local communities, they have helped elevate child care as essential infrastructure and advance policies that support children, families, providers, and a stronger economy.

Read the full op-ed:
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/opinion/guest_perspectives/the-missing-piece-in-california-s-housing-boom-childcare/article_44cf026b-a8b1-40cb-aff7-271bb9404d7a.html

When California communities talk about infrastructure, the conversation usually centers on roads, water systems, broadband and undeniably housing. We debate zoning and density, and update general plans that shape where

05/21/2026

We’re excited to continue our Inclusive Spaces webinar series focused on trauma-informed care, neuroplasticity, and creating supportive environments for young children.

Join us and for Part 2 with Elley Ho from the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Spanish interpretation will be available, and a Chinese-language webinar is coming soon. 💙

https://tinyurl.com/BuildUpSafeSpaces



🐞Nos entusiasma continuar nuestra serie de seminarios web Espacios Inclusivos, enfocada en el cuidado informado sobre el trauma, la neuroplasticidad y la creación de entornos de apoyo para los niños pequeños.

Acompáñenos en la Parte 2 con Elley Ho de la Oficina de Educación del Condado de Santa Clara. También próximamente ofreceremos un seminario web en chino.



🐝 我们很高兴继续推出“包容性空间”网络研讨会系列，重点探讨创伤知情照护、神经可塑性，以及如何为幼儿创造更具支持性的环境。

欢迎参加由圣塔克拉拉县教育办公室 Elley Ho 主讲的第二场讲座。我们也即将推出中文专场网络讲座。

#幼儿教育 #创伤知情 #包容性空间

🤝Build Up California - Early Learning Facilities

05/13/2026

Yesterday, members of the and Build Up CA teams joined Stand for Children Day at the State Capitol organized by Parent Voices chapters from Sacramento to San Diego.

We’re grateful to all the families, advocates, and partners who continue to elevate the importance of children, families, and early care and education in policy conversations across California. Child care is essential infrastructure that supports working families, local economies, and thriving communities.

A special thank you to Assemblymember Diane Papan for taking the time to meet with Build Up San Mateo County, and to State Senator Josh Becker and Assemblymember Marc Berman for their ongoing partnership and support for children, families, and the child care community.

💙 Proud to stand with advocates from across the state helping ensure the needs of young children, providers, and families remain part of the conversation.


Build Up California - Early Learning Facilities
Parent Voices CA

05/08/2026

I’ve seen a few of these during child care site visits and they’re absolutely adorable. 💛

It’s always inspiring to see creative spaces that support play, imagination, exploration, and connection for young children.

Learn more below ⬇️

Our mission is to build and sustain affordable homeownership for local, lower income families in the Bay Area. We do this by building new, affordable homes for ownership and preserving existing homes to stem displacement. Another service we provide to these same families in our community is through....