In The Mommy Business
SIERRA CHILDCARE CO-OP
Using life span development and community organization expertise to facilitate quality childcare and promote gender equity
It all began with Covid-19. The schools were shut down—they were going virtual. The world slowed down—community and kinship were significantly disrupted. We had to get creative with setting up multiple virtual classrooms for our children. We had to be extra patient with our infants and preschoolers. It was the time that Conteh & Brown Group entered the Mommy Business.
Mommy Business
Sierra Childcare Co-op Project
The Sierra Childcare Co-op Project is a social entrepreneurship venture to answer the call for quality childcare in RVA.
Access to quality childcare has powerful social, economic, and political benefits for a community, but especially for mothers, who are often the default parent carrying a heavy load.
What is access to quality childcare? We define access to quality childcare as the ability for families, of any income level, to secure childcare provided by professionals who are safe, trained on child development, well versed in trauma-centered care, and are passionate about abuse and violence prevention.
What is the childcare co-op? The co-op addresses both inadequate childcare and inadequate third spaces for parents and caregivers. At the co-op, childcare is a priority, but supporting the mental health and professional development of full time parents is an equal priority.
At the co-op, parents can check their child(ren) into the educational center, utilize the co-working space, relax in the Social Parlor, or enjoy their childfree time out in the community.
What makes this venture a cooperative? Cost is often a barrier to accessing quality childcare. To remediate this obstacle, the co-op will have traditional tuition rates, income-based tuition rates, and in-kind tuition rate arrangements. With this model, we make the co-op inclusive for the socially or economically disadvantaged parents and caregivers that also need childcare.
