The following interview is with Cynthia Davis, Executive Director at DC Family Child Care Association
DC Family Child Care Association works to educate and provide advocacy efforts for family child care educators through building strong professional connections by enhancing the lives of family child care professionals and families they serve.
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your organization?
Cynthia: I am Cynthia Davis, founder and CEO of Kings & Queens Child Care Center and Executive Director of the DC Family Child Care Association (DCFCCA).
DC Family Child Care Association is a non-profit advocacy organization that primarily provides family child care teachers and the families they serve with support, training, and education concerning products and services needed to succeed in the education industry.
What inspired you to pursue your organization’s work, and what continues to motivate you in your work today?
Cynthia: What inspired me to pursue this work is my faith in God, and when he spoke to me and said to me tell my story, they will listen, and I will always be with you. Also, what continues to motivate me is the support and encouragement from my colleagues to Speak up.
What have been some of the most rewarding experiences you’ve had while working with your organization?
Cynthia: The most rewarding moments of working at the organization are the testimonials from my colleagues about how I changed them in business and by giving them the courage to speak up for themselves.
In what ways has your organization grown or evolved since its founding?
Cynthia: We have grown into a respected and valued organization that has evolved as a local leader in advocacy for Family Child Care.
How has your organization maintained a sense of purpose and focus on its impact, and what effect do you hope your organization will have in the long term?
Cynthia: We have maintained our sense of purpose and focus by staying true to our cause of equity for Family Child Care/Home-based businesses. The long-term impact we hope for is the inclusion of Family Child Care in all funding streams regarding children’s development in early care.
If you could describe your organization using one adjective, what would it be and why?
Cynthia: Adaptive, because in Family Child Care, you always have to deal with diverse situations and be capable of maintaining a solid presence in the childcare advocacy space with limited resources.
How do you like to unwind or spend your leisure time?
Cynthia: I like to unwind by going to the spa, spending time with my friends, taking naps, and watching movies with my family.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us or want people to know?
Cynthia: I want people to know that advocacy is just telling your story through personal experiences.
Learn more about the DC Family Child Care Association, here!
Our #AskHer series is an interview series featuring gender-expansive leaders, as well as Washington Area Women’s Foundation’s partners, community members, and supporters who work tirelessly to advocate for and serve women and girls of color throughout the Washington metropolitan region. Each curated conversation seeks to shine a light on the organization and the leader and the work being done in our community and for women, girls, and gender-expansive people of color.
