Black History Month: Building a More Equitable Future for Black Families
Room to Grow’s mission — to promote equity and opportunity by helping children thrive from the start — has been informed by the historical, cultural, political, and social context of systems of oppression in the U.S.
For centuries, systems in the U.S. have made it harder for Black families to access opportunities and resources. From redlining that excluded Black families from homeownership to wage disparities that persist today, these structural inequities continue to impact the well-being of Black parents and children.
Families navigating resource-scarce environments must contend with inadequate support systems, creating additional hurdles to ensuring their children have the same opportunities as their more advantaged peers.
One of the starkest examples of these inequities is in early childhood investment. The U.S. invests just 0.02% of its GDP in child care for infants and toddlers, leaving families to bear an overwhelming financial and emotional contribution. The effects are even more pronounced for Black families, who are overrepresented in low-income households due to centuries of economic oppression.
Room to Grow believes that every child deserves a strong start in life and that every family deserves access to the material, emotional, and social support that will allow them to raise their children in alignment with their priorities. That’s why our holistic program provides families with:
Personalized guidance to support the well-being of families and strategies to bolster their children’s development
Community connections to expand families’ support networks
Essential material resources, including high-quality baby and toddler items to foster equitable opportunities in early childhood development
This two-generation, wraparound approach ensures that parents are not navigating these challenges alone. But there’s still so much work to be done. By addressing these historical and systemic barriers, we can move closer to a future where all families have what they need to thrive.
Join us in this work. Donate, advocate, and learn more today.