Local Leaders Visit Izzi: Highlighting the Importance of ECE
At Izzi Early Education, investing in our youngest learners is investing in the future of our communities. Over the past few months, we were honored to welcome local officials to our sites, giving them a firsthand look at the incredible work happening in early childhood education every day. We also had the opportunity to visit the office of Congressman Mullen, where we engaged in a thoughtful dialogue on the critical need to expand access to high-quality early learning opportunities for all children.
Our first visit was from Mayor Elmer Martinez of Redwood City at our Izzi at City Center site on July 1, 2025. During his time with us, he had the opportunity to meet our Executive Program Director, Angel Barrios; Deputy Director, Jennifer Pifeleti; Senior Development Manager, Devon Young; Site Supervisor, Mattie Cramer; and our Home-Based Specialist, Gabby Valdez Ramos. We discussed what it means to have Izzi in this community, ways Mayor Elmer can support our work, and the future of Head Start and Izzi at City Center.
“When I think of what Izzi means to our community, it’s not a Results-Oriented Accountability program that’s funded by the federal government. It’s a community that’s being built here in our downtown and in our county with our neighbors who are looking for an affordable and accessible way to help their kids learn and grow.”
At the end of July, we were honored to meet with Congressman Kevin Mullin, alongside community partners Build Up San Mateo County, Peninsula Family Services, and 4Cs Child Care, to discuss the critical role and the future of Head Start and Early Head Start programs in supporting children and families across our communities.
From left to right: David Fleishman (4Cs of San Mateo County), Christine Padilla (Build Up San Mateo County), Congressman Mullin, Charles Hansen (Peninsula Family Service), Angel Barrios (Izzi Early Education), and Devon Young (Izzi Early Education)
“We are so grateful for Congressman Mullin’s steadfast commitment to Head Start. Our inspiring conversation with him reminds us how vital federal support is for early childhood education, and his leadership ensures that programs like Izzi can continue providing children and families with the strong foundation they need to thrive.”
On September 19, South San Francisco Mayor Eddie Flores visited our Izzi at South San Francisco site, alongside representatives from Build Up San Mateo County, the Parks and Recreation Department, and Izzi’s newest funder, Genentech. His visit was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the meaningful work we do for our community. During the visit, he toured classrooms and observed how our teachers engage with the children. Mayor Flores’ engagement highlighted the important role local leaders play in advocating for accessible, high-quality early education
“It’s really a pleasure to be able to partake and support communities and instrumental centers like Izzi. It is really fun to be able to reminisce back to when I was four or three years old and remember those good times.”
These meaningful conversations and visits with Mayor Elmer Martinez, Congressmen Kevin Mullen, and Mayor Eddie Flores reflect the strong community support and commitment to early childhood education that makes Izzi’s work possible. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our mission, showcase our programs, and discuss ways local leaders can help strengthen early learning in our communities. Together, we look forward to continuing to provide high-quality education and nurturing environments where every child can thrive.
If you are a local official and would like to visit one of our amazing sites, please contact dyoung@izziearlyed.org.
