Please Support Our After School!
Dear Families
This email is a call to action for you to help us make a difference. If you have helped us before, please send a message again as we must now get approval from the Planning Board and avoid City Council blocking our afterschool and preschool program. If you have not yet helped us please do so now.
The only way to move forward successfully is to tell the planning board and city council that there is overwhelming support from Alameda voters for more preschool and aftercare options in Alameda.
As parents you know how hard it is to find high quality preschool and aftercare in Alameda. Well now is your chance to help create solutions for your family, friends, and your community.
How? By supporting our effort to open an afterschool and morning preschool program.
We have an amazing location available at 3100 Central Ave. and we need your help to make it a reality. We will transform this former church and preschool into a beautiful wonderland for children to explore, engage, and learn, at an exciting new preschool and afterschool program.
This convenient location is walkable from both Otis and Edison elementary schools as well as Lincoln Park which is perfect for aftercare. You may not know how hard it is to find convenient high quality aftercare options when you kid goes to elementary school, but this is something we hear about from our graduate families every day. Help us open our first aftercare program so there are more options for your family and other children in the future.
To make this aftercare and preschool a reality we need everyone to rally with excitement and enthusiasm because it is very possible that without your support this will not happen.
Why? Because a group of neighbors is opposed to more childcare in our area, they fear it will disrupt parking and create too much noise.
These neighbors led City Council member Trish Spencer to block our preschool and after school program from being approved by the city, and they have managed to get the support of over 100 fellow residents who do not want a preschool in our area.
This means our ability to offer more preschool and aftercare hangs in the balance. It is truly only with your support that we can turn the tide and get approval.
Most families we know moved to Alameda to raise their children in a family friendly town. Please help us send a strong message that Alameda is family friendly, and we support childcare services for our wonderful families and their little ones as they are clearly our future.
How can I get involved and make a difference?
Please support us now! Many families shared after hearing that our school was blocked that they regretted not getting involved when we asked before. They thought “ surely everyone will support another aftercare and preschool”. But sadly, this is not the case. The group that is opposing us has strong connections, unlimited time, and really does not want more children and families in their neighborhood. If the Planning Board and City Council do not receive large support in favor of aftercare and preschool telling them that future of Alameda is family friendly, we will not get approved.
How to act:
1st Please email now the City Council and the Planning Board and City staff using the email list below:
2nd Save the Date 9/23/2024 7 PM and join the planning board meeting by Zoom or in person to show support. See Details Below:
Email Instructions:
Please email ASAP and no later than 12 Noon on Monday 9/23/2024
Email List (13 recipients):
mvella@alamedaca.gov; tspencer@alamedaca.gov; tjensen@alamedaca.gov;
tdaysog@alamedaca.gov; mezzyashcraft@alamedaca.gov; stsou@alamedaca.gov;
awang@alamedaca.gov; xcisneros@alamedaca.gov; hhom@alamedaca.gov;
asaheba@alamedaca.gov; truiz@alamedaca.gov; dariza@alamedaca.gov ;HDong@alamedaca.gov
How to Write in Your Support
You can send your own message ( it is ok to send a previously sent messages if you supported us before) and or cut and paste our points below.
Message Template/Sample:
Dear Planning Board and City Council.
As a resident and parent in Alameda I strongly support approving a preschool and afterschool program at 3100 Central Avenue as proposed by Malyka Chop and Small Size Big Mind.
I know how hard it is to find quality preschool and aftercare options. Small Size Big Mind and other high-quality programs have waitlists of 12-36 months.
On a larger scale “More than 115,000 Alameda County children lack access to formal childcare and early education.
Only thirty-one percent (31%) of Alameda County children with working parents have a licensed child care and early education space available to them.”https://www.alamedacountysocialservices.org/about-us/Government-and-Community-Relations/programs-and-initiatives/child-care
As families we really need more high-quality childcare options in our area.
- This location is ideal because it is walking distance to both elementary schools in the area, Otis and Edison for after care, and close to a public park for field trips and outings, as well as walking distance to where many of the families who need care live.
- I know from experience that many families prefer to walk or bike to and from school and this location is perfect due to its east end location in the heart of our neighborhood.
- I have seen firsthand that the Small Size Big Mind Community and its owners are respectful of neighbors when it comes to parking, congestion, and noise.
- Parking at drop off and pick when parents do drive does not pose a long-term parking issue as it is spread out over more than 2.5 hours and parents come and go quickly.
- The staff are respectful with parking and do not pose a parking burden on the neighborhood as many bike, walk, or ride public transportation as an alternative to driving.
- The owners have updated the design, program, schedule, and parking and drop off procedures to address concerns of the neighbors effectively to fit in as positive addition to the area and will add public parking by removing a driveway and increasing the public curb.
- 3100 Central Ave is currently approved and recently used for religious assemblies of up 125 people at one time and the proposed use for preschool and after care with a max of 50 children is much less than this and will have less impact on parking, congestion, and noise.
Based on the growing demand in our neighbor for high quality, walkable, local preschool and aftercare solutions please approve this preschool and afterschool program to support this critical community need.
Join The Planning Board Meeting – see agenda attached
How to attend the meeting Monday 9/23/2024 at 7 PM by Zoom or in Person
Support us in person
When: Monday, September 23, 2024 – 7:00 PM ( please arrive 5 minutes early)
Where: City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Alameda, CA 94501
Or join by Zoom
For Zoom registration, please click:
For Telephone Participants: Zoom Phone Number: 669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 815 3979 3319
Your support will make a critical difference because in the end the City Council and Planning Board wants the support of the voting public. The total number of people supporting us tells this is an important issue that matters to voters. Send a strong message that the needs of families and children are important to the future of Alameda.
All the key points will be made at the beginning with a presentation of support by the City staff and our SSBM team.
People supporting us can simply say, “ support and the points previously made”. What matters most is showing how many voters support childcare solutions in our city, so the Planning Board and City Council understand how important this issue is to our community. Remember this is an election year and your vote matters in this small town.
I understand that everyone is busy, and your time is precious, just remember that by taking a few minutes to send an email and join a meeting either in person or even by Zoom, you will make a really big difference in giving life to an aftercare option that could help you and your friends soon.
If ever there was a time you could help your school, your family, your friends, and the future of our great community in need of childcare options, this is the time.
Thank you all for your involvement.
Malyka, Tallulah and Laurence
Please click links below for photos of our schools.
Santa Clara https://sway.cloud.microsoft/9ZsCopgRNfnDzlBv?ref=Link&loc=play
Pan Am https://youtu.be/muNS-6PV5lc