♪♪ [chatter of children] [bells chime, baby coos] [soft musical score: singing bowls, soothing tones] [adult chuckles, baby rings bells] [baby coos] [hands clap softly] [train rattles on tracks] ADULT: Choo-choo!

[busy chatter of children] CHILD: HA HA!

WOMAN: What's funny?

What's funny?

[woman sings briefly] CHILD: Round and around and around and around.

I did it!

[upbeat music] [children chatter] WOMAN: Thank you.

What are we making?

[children chatter] What are we making?

CHILDREN: Carrot waffles!

[crosstalk] -Okay.

You have to be careful because you might scrape your fingers in here and I don't want you to scrape your fingers.

[crosstalk] [chatter] You're just the safety— safety queen!

I think you're in control of your body, you got it.

Yeah, you got control.

LEILA: My friend, she's like, “I work at a preschool.

I think you'd be good there.” And I was like, “No.

I don't think I like kids that much.” CHILD: That's kinda too fast.

LEILA: But I started subbing.

CHILD: Time is up!

LEILA: (on-screen) All right.

Drop your carrots!

(off-screen) And I was like, “This is awesome!” [laughs] (on-screen) [laughter] (off-screen) People say all the time, “Oh, you must be so patient.” And you know, I don't know if it's patient as much as like, maybe my tolerance for shenanigans is just higher.

CHILD: Time is up!

LEILA: You're eating... -Time is up.

LEILA: ...the glitter.

[children chatter] Can you please put the top on and wash your hands again?

Dude, we are not eating the edible glitter.

I don't want any of your guys' spit in these waffles, to be honest.

-It smells like carrots.

-It does.

'Kay, you just put your finger on your mouth again, Jasmine.

You're gonna have to wash your hands again.

[chuckling] -But, but the glitter is not getting off.

-That's okay.

Wash your hands again.

It's fine.

You'll still get to eat some waffle.

I think you're upset now.

Hey, no.

Jasmine, you don't get to run out of the classroom just because you're upset.

You can be upset and you can be upset in our classroom.

(off-screen) People constantly see it as like playing all day, but they don't see all of the social, emotional work that goes into it, the counseling work that goes into it.

[chatter] [small object hits surface] LEILA: (to child) Hey, my friend.

[child crying] LEILA: Excuse me.

First and foremost, that does not feel good that you would throw something hard towards me.

That doesn't feel good.

Does that mean that I don't love you, because I want you to stop?

-Mm-mm.

-No, it doesn't.

I love you very much.

[muffled] I love you so much.

[inaudible] LEILA: Okay!

[soft music] [children chatter] MAN: Are you ready over here?

'Kay, I'ma go check over here.

I'll be right back.

Are you ready over here?

-Yeah.

-Use your magic wand.

Help me turn the book around.

One, two, three.

Whoop!

CHILD: Zhoop!

DAN: (off-screen) When I tell people I'm a preschool teacher, they say, “Oh, no, but real school starts when they're older.

So you're a babysitter.” DAN: (on-screen) This one or that one?

-That one!

DAN: (off-screen) But we're with these children for so many critical years when there's so much neural growth taking place.

(on-screen) And then, Ricky, how did he take it from you?

Did he ask?

No.

You did not ask to have it back.

Does sharing mean only one person can play with it, or everybody?

-Everybody.

DAN: Everybody.

[crosstalk] DAN: This is today's popsicle stick theater.

[sticks clink] This is about sharing.

Somebody came and took it.

‘Give me that toy!'

'Kay.

Now you're gonna be Ricky.

Ricky is Ricky.

Etta, come on over.

What should you do if you wanna have a turn with that book?

RICKY: Ask.

-So how can you ask Etta to have a turn?

RICKY: When you gonna be done?

ETTA: Five.

DAN: Five minutes.

Thank you to our actors in the popsicle stick theater.

Let's give them all a round of applause.

[clapping] DAN: (off-screen) I can't think of a better thing to do than to help young people navigate through this world.

CHILD: [crying] No.

DAN: (on-screen) You can be frustrated, but we don't need to start throwing the food.

So I'm gonna go like this.

(off-screen) But I could be driving an Amazon delivery truck and making more money.

[lively chatter] -Okay.

Whoo.

ANNE: (off-screen) Monday, I had four teachers out.

But here's a secret: when I have to be subbing in the classroom, I'm so happy.

(on-screen) Orange.

Oh, yeah, it does.

It turns orange in there.

Uh-huh.

[indistinct clattering] CHILD: Um, pink?

-Pink?

-Uh, um ... -To orange.

CHILD: Pink.

ANNE: Pink.

Okay, this one you step in.

[chatter] ADULT: An earlier, shorter shift until kids start staying until the end of the— ANNE: But then I'm messed up because I don't have anyone at the end of the day, for this group, until we hire somebody.

-I see.

You're doing only Indeed or Craigslist too?

-I did Craigslist.

I got zero.

[crosstalk] -Okay.

ANNE: Over the last couple of weeks, there have been seven people, altogether.

And out of those seven, [laughs] here's my list of... ‘Decline for a different position.'

‘No show for observation.'

‘No show.'

‘No answer for phone interview.'

-Oh, man.

Come on.

-‘Declined because pay was lower than what I expected.'

And then I declined this perso—- -Oh.

-after their phone interview.

-Oh.

-I got nothing.

[rips paper] -Yeah.

-Okay.

Um... -We need to implement plan B... -Okay.

-right now.

-Now?

-Yeah.

-Right.

-But maybe that would be good.

ANNE: (off-screen) You know, there's plenty of studies that you can look at that will tell you if you get really high quality early care and education, you're gonna thrive and go on to be more prosperous in your life.

But there's a really big disconnect.

[thoughtful music] [faint chatter] [somber cello music] Think about what you're noticing and what you're wondering about, and then you can bring in your own experiences.

LEILA: With celebration rather than like— ANNE: (off-screen) There's a slogan, “Parents can't afford to pay.

Teachers can't afford to stay”" Because what we would actually have to charge parents to pay teachers the professional wage that they need and deserve would be unaffordable to families.

[chatter] ♪♪ Right now, it's a very broken system.

[somber cello music] ♪♪ [music becomes urgent] [wind rustles trees] [reporters speak in succession] -Daycare centers across the state forced to shut down to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus.

-Giving child care centers until Friday night to close.

-Decisions with a massive impact for working parents... -Across the country, at least 21 million kids now home from school.

♪♪ -There are a number of facilities that will remain open for essential workers who need to go to work during this crisis, but only those parents who have no other option will have access.

♪♪ [traffic whirs] [talks quietly to herself] I have— Oh, this one.

[books shuffle] Yeah, I change my books every week.

I have a lot.

Oh, they love this one.

I love this one.

And this one is my favorite.

[doorbell rings] CHILD: Hello!

[chatter] PATRICIA: Okay, I'm coming!

[excited chatter] Hi!

(off-screen) Everything is closed.

Family child care providers, we have our facilities open.

We're the essential workers for those essential workers.

PARENT: Like three ounces, because he fell back to sleep.

PATRICIA: [gasps] Only three ounces!

My goodness.

Okay.

Bye-bye.

(off-screen) In open a facility, you open to anything, virus, bacterias, everything.

[background chatter] It's really risky.

[Spanish chatter] (on-screen) Do you know Gio, that's really a smart choice.

Good.

You're gonna build your own farm here?

CHILD: Okay.

PATRICIA: Okay!

This is so cool.

Good job, Giovanni.

[chatter, children playing] [doorbell rings] PATRICIA: Yay.

Hi, papi!

Oh, how are you?

Good?

Aw.

¿Cómo estas tú?

CHILD: Um, sad.

PATRICIA: Sad?

Why?

CHILD: Ah.

-Okay.

Sometimes we are sad.

CHILD: Happy.

Happy.

PATRICIA: Happy!

I'm happy too!

CHILD: Mad.

PATRICIA: (off-screen) Having a child who's having trouble with himself, trying to help him to understand their own feelings... PARENT: Love you!

Bye!

PATRICIA: (off-screen) that's my goal.

(on-screen) Have a wonderful day!

[children play and chatter] PATRICIA: [sing-song voice] ¡Cuidado la cabeza, Gio, Gio, Gio, Gio, Gio!

[playing, chattering, shuffling] [children squabble] PATRICIA: Cristian, stop.

Cristian.

[child cries] CRISTIAN: Stephanie!

Stephanie!

PATRICIA: Uh, Stephanie, you can use your words and say, “Don't do that to me.” [indistinct thump] She say, “Don't do that again.” Okay?

CRISTIAN: I wanna share with him.

PATRICIA: Yeah, but did you hear that?

She say, “Don't do that again”" Okay?

You need to ask her... nicely.

CRISTIAN: Nicely?

Stephanie, could we share?

What?

GIRL: Yeah, you can play.

-Yay!

PATRICIA: Oh good!

Good job, guys!

Good job.

What about you?

[child whines] What do you need?

Okay, papi.

[laughs] [whispers] [children's music plays nearby] [mysterious orchestral music] ♪♪ ♪♪ [music transforms into a waltz] ♪♪ [orchestra swells dramatically] ♪♪ [music comes to a graceful end] [faint whir of traffic] [gentle music] [indistinct murmur] Not bragging, but I'm a good cook.

[foil rustles] Toddlers are cute, but you don't want them saying, “Yucky!” [light-hearted music] ♪♪ CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) I went to school to be a teacher, but with three kids to support, I switched to business management.

I was a great bank manager.

Did it for 15 years.

[swing chains rattle] And one day just had enough and quit.

(on-screen) So now we're ready.

[yells excitedly to child] Kyomi!

K-Y-O-M-I!

(off-screen) I said I wanted to open my own daycare, preschool.

My family thought I was crazy.

[mimics grave concern] “Don't do it!

You don't have money!” [laughing] And I just said, “I'm just gonna do it and I'm gonna trust God.” [CHARLOTTE talks to parent and laughs] -Did you have a good morning?

-Mm-hmm.

-What did you eat for breakfast?

-Breakfast burrito.

-You had a breakfast burrito?

[playful] Where's mine?

CHILD: Lookit, I'm big!

-You've been drinking some milk?

-Yeah.

CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) We have a family at my school.

We lost the mom to COVID.

CHILD: That blue.

-That's blue.

What is that?

CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) That part of my job, you know, where the parents don't see me crying, [chuckles] it's hard.

[child talks inaudibly] We just love on that baby a lot.

-And my big muscles.

-You have big muscles 'cause you're eating your fruit?

-Yeah.

CHARLOTTE: Okay.

I'm happy you're eating.

[squealing, laughter and chatter] [toys clatter] CHARLOTTE: (on-screen) What that say?

CHILD: A-R-I-A-H. -Whose name is that?

-Mine.

-All right.

Are you ready?

CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) We know that we have families that are homeless, you know, and are really struggling.

[soft, sparse music] A parent might be in the middle of substance abuse or the child says she saw the daddy hit the mommy or something like that.

Just life.

[adult talks to child lovingly] I tell my staff, “This is Disneyland.

Make it happen.” [child laughs joyfully] CHILD: Green!

[adults cheer] -Green!

-Yay!

Okay.

Oh, one more!

Oh, no.

Were you peeking?

-Mm-hmm!

-Turn and close your eyes.

CHARLOTTE: Ama lama lama la... [child laughs] (off-screen) Some people say, “Oh, you don't need to do anything.

Let 'em learn it in kindergarten.” No, that's not gonna work.

-(on-screen) Brown!

CHILD: Black!

CHARLOTTE: Black!

Shh.

Don't tell!

CHILD: Red!

CHARLOTTE: Go find the circle!

CHILD: A circle!

CHARLOTTE: Find a circle!

-(off-screen) They're fired up in kindergarten, they're gonna be fired up in the 12th grade.

And when they go into college, that's a piece of cake.

(on-screen) Okay.

If you get it right, you get it.

CHILD: [yells] E!

-Oh, man!

-J for jump rope!

CHARLOTTE: J for jump rope.

-H for heart!

-Heart!

Boom, boom, boom.

-Q for question mark!

-Oh!

Yes!

Woohoo!

I didn't get any.

Who won?

-Me!

-All riiiiight.

[claps] Woohoo!

CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) I have a sister that's a nurse.

She volunteered one day and she says, “You're not getting paid enough money!

You should get paid like $50 an hour.” And I was like, “HA!

Are you kidding?” I was like, “Try seven.” Yeah, seven, $8 an hour, if you did the math.

[upbeat trip hop instrumental] ♪♪ ANNE: Parents, they're saying, “This is so hard, to have an infant and be expected to work from home.” I heard just an overall desire to really support teachers and the school as a whole while also acknowledging that there's a limit, financially.

DAN: Remember how to say imagination in sign language?

[crosstalk] And I hope you can use your imagination today and maybe you could pretend to be at school 'cause I really miss being at school.

So we've been using our imagination, pretending we're going to school.

[child complains] DAN: Really?

ANNE: We don't have the loan money right now.

That's all a wish and a dream.

[crosstalk] ANNE: And we need to pay the bills now.

DAN: I cannot wait to throw Zoom in the trashcan.

Diapers, diapers... [rustling] CHILD: I wanna get out.

DAN: Yeah.

You're ready to get out?

-Yeah.

-Okay.

And Maisie, if we see other people on the trail, people in our community, can we give them hugs today?

-No.

-No.

MAISIE: [singing] ♪ Walking walking... DAN: Do you hear the birdies talking?

MAISIE: Up there.

-Up there?

-Way up there.

-Way up there!

Oh, I think I see one up there.

Is that a nest?

[Dan whistles, mimicking a bird] -Over there.

DAN: Over there.

[whispers] Yeah.

(off-screen) When I was a child, someone told my mom, “Your son is broken.

There's something wrong.” And my mom said, “Well, I don't have a receipt, I can't take him back.” (on-screen) Here we go.

Under the tunnel!

[makes jet sound] Brr-rr-rr... [whispers] What's that?

MAISIE: A classroom!

DAN: Our classroom.

That's right.

(off-screen) My father had abandoned us when I was about Maisie's age.

(on-screen) And dada's just looking for poison oak and I don't see any.

Put your hands on it... (off-screen) He struggled with addiction and bounced in and out of prison.

And I had some learning disabilities and challenges.

(on-screen) Okay, baby bug.

Even though they have no words, my favorite songs are sung by... [tender chiming music] What?

Birds!

[Maisie laughs] DAN: (off-screen) My mom was both my parents and my other parent was my preschool teachers.

They helped my mom when she needed assistance.

They helped me.

They helped my family.

[chiming music joined by strings becomes warm] They, in essence, I feel, saved my life.

♪♪ [music fades] -Okay.

Are you all sitting down?

[someone laughs] Are you all ready?

[giddy laughter] SUSAN: We got the loan.

[Meeting participants cheer] -Woohoo!

-Woo!

-Which will get us through July.

[clapping] -Good job, Susan!

[soft, cheerful music] [gate clatters] ♪♪ ANNE: It's so clear how much people rely on early child care.

They have to have child care in order to work.

ANNE: You were ready before you thought you were!

Yay.

(off-screen) And families are really seeing how important skillful teaching is in their lives.

[children laugh and chatter] DAN: Hmm.

We have to find the letter... We gotta find an F. [faint chatter of classroom] Is that an F?

CHILDREN: No.

DAN: Is that an F?

CHILDREN: [laughing] No.

[crosstalk] That's a sock.

DAN: That's a sock.

LEILA: [singing] ♪ The night was dark ♪ and the door was locked ♪ so I took the key out of my pocket ♪ [sings fast] ♪ I unlocked the door, I opened it up ♪ ♪ What did I see?

CHILD: A monkey.

TEACHER: A Monkey?

Aaaahhh!

♪ So I ran outside and went to sleep!

♪ [laughs] ADULT: [singing] ♪ Make a circle... [chatter and shuffling in classroom] [children join in singing] ♪ Make it round ♪ Make it round ♪ All of us together All of us together ♪ ♪ Please sit down MARGARITA: (off-screen) Some people say like, working with babies, it's a hard job.

[singing to child] ♪ Salta, salta, salta, ♪ pequeña langosta... (off-screen) But I prefer to work the youngest, not the oldest.

[laughs] CHILD: Play -Mas?

-Yes.

[resumes singing] MARGARITA: (off-screen) Sitting, crawling, walking, and then talking.

(on-screen) Vr-rrr-rrr-oom!

(off-screen) It's so beautiful.

So beautiful.

[chatter and playing] Maybe in 15 or 16 years, they're not gonna remember me... but that seed that I plant for them, (in Spanish) has el fruto.

[Margarita makes funny sounds, children laugh] I give as much as I can to the babies, then I do the second job.

And sometimes I don't feel strong, but I'm here.

[sighs out loud] I can do it.

[water runs from faucet] ♪♪ -How are you today?

-Um, I'm more stressed.

Some of the families getting cold feet around coming back.

Which I get.

SUSAN: We've lost 35% income.

We've lost 35% of enrollment.

I looked at our budget yesterday.

[laughs] We're not gonna [becomes serious] make it.

(off-screen) Child care is so fragile.

For years I've tried to develop a reserve, but every time we got more money, we put it into the staff.

How can someone take care of children, who isn't sure if they can pay rent?

Or if they're not sure that they're gonna have enough food?

The turnover rate is so high and this pandemic will make it worse.

[somber music] ♪♪ [chatter of classroom] [someone beats on drum] ADULT: ♪ Now I know my ABCs ♪ Next time won't you sing with...♪ meee ♪ Give a big drum roll.

Go.

Meeeee... Yah!

Gotta put your hands up.

Heeey!

Okay!

Wooo!

CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) We get children that are on subsidized program.

[classroom chatter] (on-screen) [clapping] One two three!

(off-screen) Their parents, they're working for minimum wage.

Family child care providers like me, we work for the State of California, our beautiful state.

And it's very expensive to live here, but we don't have medical and we don't have basic retirement.

I love my governor, but does he have a retirement account?

I think so.

[background chatter on-screen] (off-screen) 625 children have gone through Rose's Daycare and they're doing well.

But besides coming back and saying, “Auntie Rose, I'm a dentist now!” what do I have?

(on-screen) I wanna be five years old ‘cause I wanna— I get to play and I wanna color like you!

Come on.

Let's go!

CHILD: Yeah.

Let's be together!

CHARLOTTE: We are together.

We are together.

[chatter in Spanish] ...Afro Americanos, solamente... [people greet each other] -Carlota!

Hello Carlota!

[chatter] -Tell 'em my name.

-Carlota.

-[sing-song] Carlota!

[laughter] [upbeat, purposeful cello music] [lively chatter] ♪♪ CHARLOTTE: [sings and claps] One plus one is two!

And two plus two is four.

Four plus four is eight!

And eight plus eight is sixteen!

-Hello and welcome.

Many of you remember Ms. Gloria Lyons.

Who remembers Gloria Lyons?

[people clap] She was over the association here in Alameda County.

-Yes.

-Mm hm.

-Ms. Lyons passed away.

-Oh!

[murmurs from group] NANCY: She was close to 80.

She was still working.

-Still working.

NANCY: And how many of you wanna be almost 80 and still working as a child care provider?

Raise your hand.

-No.

-No.

[quiet laughter] NANCY: I'm sorry.

I didn't hear any— I didn't see any hands!

Raise your hand if you wanna still work at 80 years old, as a child care provider.

At 80 years old?!

You wanna be working?

-I like to work.

[uproarious laughter] NANCY: That's one out of a million.

Trust me.

[laughs] -That's only because of the love for the children.

-That's the love for the children.

See how dedicated we are.

But it's one thing to want to do it and it's a whole nother ball game where you have to do it.

-Have to do it.

-Because you have not made enough money so that you can retire with dignity.

-Exactly.

-We're not the Girls Glee Club.

-No.

NANCY: You're here because we're gonna talk about policy, how we can better our lives, how you can have benefits.

That's why you are here.

[clapping starts] [applause] CHARLOTTE: Some people say, “We're too busy.

I don't have time.” ”And what if we lose?” But I was like, “Get in the game!

Can you get in the game?” What would happen if all of us got in the game?

[busy chatter] MAN: And remember, these are the invitations that providers signed, inviting the governor to come to their family childcare home, and see what it's like to walk a day in a childcare provider's shoes.

PATRICIA: I find out they were fighting to have a union.

[upbeat, purposeful cello music] I was concerned about my English, my accent, but you know, this is me.

That's the way I talk and my fears is not going to stop me.

My fear is that injustice can continue.

(on-screen) Yeah, it's a little heavy.

-All right.

-It's for the Governor.

It's from the Child Care Providers United.

We are taking care of those childrens with a lot of passion and we are early educators.

[cheering and applause] GOV.

NEWSOM: And it is my privilege— [joyous group chatter] -to sign this bill.

[cheers and applause] PATRICIA: (off-screen) Amazing moment that opened the door to fight for our rights.

[group cheers] I couldn't believe I was there.

[clapping rhythmically] I was next to him.

[laughs] [cheering] REPORTER 1: Child care providers formed a union after organizing for close to 20 years.

Child Care Providers United specifically represents people paid by the state to care for kids enrolled in subsidized home child cares.

REPORTER 2: The deal brings more than 40,000 workers their first raise in five years.

[faint chanting] ¡Proveedores no pelean, ganan ganan ganan!

¡Proveedores no pelean, ganan ganan ganan!

[laughing and cheering] PATRICIA: Now we have that seat at the table.

But this is the beginning.

We need to fight for more benefits because we deserve and we need it.

[flags flap in the wind] [low musical hum] [water sloshes] ♪♪ [music brightens] [water trickles] [leaves rustle] [sifting sound] [soft string music quickens] ♪♪ [gentle splashing] ♪♪ [children chatter] [toilet flushes] [liquid shakes in bottle] ANNE: (off-screen) It's really significant that the family child care providers are unionizing.

[spraying] That's a good thing for us all because it elevates the visibility of early childhood education and the needs of the workforce.

But most early childhood educators are not unionized.

We're all spread out, little schools like this, totally disconnected from everyone else.

Who's across the negotiating table?

Parents?

[laughing] They can't be across the table from us!

We're doing the best we can for them and they're doing the best they can for us.

[door slams] [footsteps] ANNE: (on-screen) So yesterday, [crinkling of food packaging] the City of Berkeley Mayor's Office did a listening session and I got on my soap box for a minute.

And I said, “What we need is public investment in early childhood education.” And I talked about the fragility of early childhood being really revealed right now.

And the Vice Mayor said we should look at how Berkeley might invest in early childhood and starting a taskforce on that.

And I was nodding and she said, “It looks like, Anne, you have some energy and interest in that.” And I said, “Yes!

I'm in.” And it felt like a possibility.

[shuffling] [hopeful music] [emotional] I'm so excited!

♪♪ LEILA: Aw.

[Leila makes tiny baby squeals] LEILA: Hi!

NEIGHBOR: Looking good!

-Thank you.

[laughs] -[inaudible].

LEILA: Yeah, I'm at 8 months now.

-Oh, my God.

Yay.

-I know.

-It goes by quick.

-No, it really— I was like, “Oh, my gosh.

I'm gonna have a baby.” -Yeah.

[laughter] [Leila sings to herself] (off-screen) I wanted to be a mom, but my biggest fear right now is bringing a brown child into this world.

[rapid percussion] [steady bass and percussion music] It feels really overwhelming.

♪♪ [faint chatter] (on-screen) Come on, snuggle bunny.

(off-screen) Commonly, children of color are not seen in positive lights, especially when they exhibit difficult behavior.

With the power I feel as a teacher, I have to change something.

LEILA: [over video call] I think it would be interesting to come up with some kind of unified way of talking about racism and bias in our school 'cause we all have different things that we want to say to children- ANNE: Yeah.

LEILA: and to parents as well.

♪♪ If you can have the conversation about race with your child, it would make a difference in how they start thinking about things.

-Um, we haven't really broached the subject with [inaudible].

Yeah, people don't treat everybody correctly based on their skin color, but like I'm totally glossing over it.

-If we tell our kids about Breonna Taylor they're going to ask us like, could that happen to us?

You know, could a police officer come in and shoot us in our house?

I think I'm just trying to lean into the discomfort of it.

-The ability to go through life, not having to think about race, that is white privilege.

Things are not getting better.

-All children should be protected from this.

Some children won't be.

♪♪ This desire to protect my daughter, you can't protect anyone from everything, but I'm hoping that she'll be able to be strong and resilient and feel safe.

DAN: [firmly] Uh-uh!

Stop.

[child whines] [calmly] Did you bite somebody?

CHILD: I wanna get on there!

-Did you bite somebody?

-[crying] I wanna get on there!

-Then remember, your words are faster than your body.

-[crying] I wanna get on there.

No!

-Now, tell her with your words.

[Maisie cries and squeals] DAN: Tell her with your words.

[both girls scream and cry] Did you wanna have a turn?

Then you need to tell her.

-I'm getting on there.

MAISIE: I want to have a turn.

DAN: Are you- -I'm get on there right now!

-Are you done?

-NO!

DAN: Come here.

Come here.

Are you done?

-[crying] No!

Then you tell her this, “I'm not done yet.” -I'm not done yet.

DAN: Right here.

[Maisie cries] I wanna save it.

Now listen.

Turn to Rory.

Did you wanna have a turn with that swing?

MAISIE: Yes.

-Then talk to her about it.

MAISIE: [faintly] Can I have that?

DAN: You have to listen to her.

She said, “Can I have that?” MAISIE: Can I have that when you're done?

[dog barks faintly outside] I can't see it on here.

I can only see it on the computer, but I'm pretty sure you're paying $100 a month, and you only have to pay 74.

But that means we have five more months.

[sighs] DAN: For a 42-minute visit to the hospital.

Yew!

-Yeehaw.

To make them say, “Your heart's still there and it's healthy!” Um, okay.

So- LAURA: Meanwhile, you know, like, it feels unwise to... not have a buffer right now.

-Right.

-Just in case, you know, the school closes, they can't pay you.

-Right.

LAURA: Um... We're stressed out.

I mean, it's gotta be coming through for her.

-Right.

She woke up this morning.

I was like, “How was your sleep?” And she says, “I didn't hit any of my friends.” [Laura laughs] DAN: [laughing] I said, “You're right 'cause you were sleeping”" -Great start.

[gentle music coming from the room] LAURA: Did you have a good nap?

DAN: (off-screen) We both have childhood traumas and we don't wanna see Maisie go through what we had to go through.

LAURA: Yeah.

Thank you.

DAN: (on-screen) Ready?

Come on out.

Ready?

One and two, and one, two, three!

[Dan grunts playfully] LAURA: (off-screen) I wanna make sure that she knows better than I did, that her body is really important and to be treasured and respected, um, by everybody, including herself.

And she just pushed it off like, “Come here.

I wanna have a turn.” “Don't push me.

I'm on the swing.” “Can I have a turn when you're done?” MAISIE: Yeah.

DAN: Yeah?

Okay.

[Laura vocalizes a sigh] Parenting.

[exhausted sigh] DAN: Parenting, you're doing great.

You know that- [crosstalk] -Thanks, babe.

-If I die and come back, I want you to be my mom.

[crosstalk] -Don't die!

-Okay?

Will you be- [crosstalk] LAURA: Alright.

That took a turn.

[laughs] [quiet chatter] DAN: (off-screen) I don't wanna leave early childhood, but I need to see what's more sustainable.

[faint chatter] [birds caw outside] [typing] DAN: (on-screen) I am wanting to reach out to you and ask about the credential program.

My goal is to acquire my multi-subject teaching credential and shift to the elementary grades, hopefully 4th or 5th grade, with an emphasis on social sciences and history.

Please get back to me at your earliest convenience.

Thank you.

[typing] [thoughtful music] ♪♪ ♪♪ CHILD: No!

I want stay here.

PATRICIA: Oh!

[chuckles] [crosstalk] Sariah?

Wait, wait, wait...

It's your mom.

[laughs] SARIAH: No!

I don't wanna go bye-bye.

No.

[crosstalk] PATRICIA: Sariah, Sariah, listen.

You're coming back Monday.

-[Sariah cries] No!

[crosstalk] -Okay.

Bye-bye, Tiana.

Bye, Sariah.

You're coming back Monday.

Okay.

I love you.

[Sariah continues to protest] PATRICIA: Hard to leave.

[sighs] Ay, ay, ay.

PATRICIA: At this time, every day, when everything is so quiet, I miss them.

[laughs] PATRICIA: I continue with onions.

[onion skin crinkles] I use a lot of onions for everything.

[sizzling from pot] The onion is the queen of the kitchen.

[laughs] [food simmering, egg cracking] And I'm trying to find my mom.

She was a Prima Ballerina and my dad was completely the opposite.

[laughs] He was, you know, like Secretary of State in Bolivia.

He believe in justice.

[somber music] He fight in the revolution, to give the indigenous people the right to vote.

He had a lot of enemies.

I think I was five-years-old, the militaries knocking the door and they start hitting my dad.

And they took him.

I saw my mom crying.

They forced him to drink the black oil from the car.

He almost died.

When I was in the university, he told us that we need to leave Bolivia because it was very dangerous for us to stay.

[food sizzling] PATRICIA: Hi, honey!

-Hello.

You need any help in the kitchen?

Um... washing the- [both laugh] PATRICIA: I know you don't like it.

Thank you.

I think of my dad all the time.

I'm always very proud of him.

I know he's proud of me too.

That one is yours.

You put me a lot of rice.

(speaking Spanish) [laughs] Oh, my goodness.

PATRICIA: Oh, my God.

[groans] [laughs] (speaking English) [kiss] Okay.

[woman sings in Spanish] [lively chatter in Spanish] [people greet each other in Spanish] [busy chatter] [Patricia addresses group speaking Spanish] [applause] PATRICIA: ¡Sí se puede!

[hum of city] [indistinct tinny ringing] [shuffling and movement in room] MAN: Why don't you just give me the list and, and I'll call out the names, and we'll be ready to go.

Okay.

CHARLOTTE: (on-screen) And they were wonderful.

[whispers] Okay.

[jingle bells clink] [laughs] DON: Okay.

CHARLOTTE: Okay.

‘Kay, get on beat.

You ready?

DON: Let's do it.

Okay.

-One, two... [snaps] One, two.

One, two.

Break it down.

Break it down.

DON: [rhythmically] Mm.

Mm.

Mm.

Mm.

Mm.

-Okay, stop Santa.. [laughter] -Okay.

[excited chatter of children] ADULT: Shh!

Shh!

SANTA DON: Ho, ho, ho!

Ho, ho, ho!!

[kids squeal] SANTA: Hi kids!

I'm here because I heard that there was a lot of nice children here.

Who's been naughty?

[scattered yelling from children] SANTA: What!

You been naughty?

CHILD: [yells] I was good!

SANTA: You were good?

CHARLOTTE: Can I open it?

SANTA: Auntie Rose said you guys have been good all year.

CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) We're giving the parents a parent night out.

They're happy to just ... “You're gonna keep my kids 'til eight o'clock?” You know, some are, “I can go get his bike!

I can go hide the toys!” I think one said, “I can go take a bath!” -Say “Santa!” -Santa!

CHARLOTTE: It's just respite care for them and it's like, “You're special.

Merry Christmas.” [adults and children cheer] [Santa laughs] -Are we ready to open, guys?

CHILDREN: Yeah.

[children chatter, paper rips] [‘wows' and excited chatter from children] [children squeal and chatter] [tender music] CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) Just last week, two providers said, “I don't know if I'm gonna keep my school open” and “I can't afford it.” And they're so good!

And I'm like, “Just, please just— are you— are you sure?” If we don't get a decent contract with the state, you're gonna have even more providers closing their doors for good.

-I don't think they just realized that that's the ramifications and, um- ANNE: Yeah.

Well, Prima, let's not, let's not leave that off the table, for future advocacy.

[crosstalk] PRIMA: I'm looking at the clock though—[crosstalk] -And I think that maybe we could invite them [voice fades] to participate with us in advocating—[fades] [somber music] ANNE: (off-screen) Policymakers saying, “We wanna understand.

Tell us.” And then we tell them, and then they do nothing.

[faint chatter] It often feels like you're just running on a treadmill that goes nowhere for nothing, to do advocacy in this field.

SUSAN: And if there's any silver lining coming out of this pandemic, it's the funding that's coming down the pike— -Yeah.

that we can utilize.

-Yeah.

And one of the things that I read in this federal plan, I think it's great that they're talking about wages and how detrimental it is for EC teachers to be paid so poorly.

-Mm-hmm.

-But then the answer is to raise them to at least $15 an hour.

-Oh, I know, it's- -That makes me sick.

-Yeah.

-How is $15 an hour a livable, professional wage?

[crosstalk] It is not.

-And we have to find another way to sustain instead of... charging more tuition, which [scoffs] is really hard for parents.

Or your GoFundMe idea every year.

-Uh-huh.

[conversation fades] [urgent music] Susan has a mantra that she taught me when I became a director and that is, “If you don't feed the teachers, they will eat the children.” [laughs quietly] And pretty much everything that we do is to feed the teachers as the central organizing aspect of the school.

[teachers chatter in background] They need to have benefits, including paid time off.

Making sure that teachers have planning time, professional development.

But it's really challenging to feed the teachers in this broken system.

[corn leaves rustle in wind] [faint chatter of children, birds chirp] CHILD: Quit eating the flower.

DAN: Those are nasturtiums.

You can eat those.

CHILD: Oh.

DAN: Will you pick one for me to eat?

CHILD: Yes, I will.

You can have this one.

DAN: Oh, really?

-Yeah.

DAN: You're— That's very kind of you.

Thank you.

I'm scared.

Should I be scared?

-No.

You should be happy.

DAN: Will you point your magic wand and help me to be happy?

Nnnnn here I go!

[makes nom nom sounds] Mmm!

-Dan, they taste a little crazy.

DAN: I'm happy now.

Mm, [still eating] I'm not scared.

I am happy!

I got nasturtium power.

Woo!

Those are spicy!

ANNE: How are you?

DAN: I'm good.

I'm good.

I'm really just stressed with school.

Um... -Yeah, yeah.

-and I have seven applications in to elementary schools, three interviews next week.

-Mmm.

I actually was told the other day, Anne in another interview, “I understand that you've got a lot of preschool teaching, but how in the world do you think that's gonna apply to teaching in real school?” -Oh, my God.

[crosstalk] -And immediately was like, -How insulting!

'Well, I won't be [bleep] working there.'

-Right.

I said, “Guess who gets you all those kids prepared for these grades.” -Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-And she's like, “Oh, I'm sorry.

I can see I definitely hit a button.” I said, “You did!” -Yeah.

-Woof!

-Yeah.

I would choose for you to stay in the field, because of everything that you bring to it.

-Thank you.

-And because I know— -It's hard, Anne.

—that you love the work.

-A part of me is like, “Are you abandoning these kids?” -Yeah.

[faint chatter of kids playing] [Leila hums softly] [sings] ♪ Good lord show me the way ♪ Oh, Zion let's go down ♪ Let's go down, come on down ♪ ♪ Oh, Zion let's go down ♪ down to the river to pray [whispers] Thank God.

[deep, quiet sigh] She's sleeping.

[quiet, vocal sigh] [bird caws nearby] [Leila sings] ♪ ah ga-ga-ga-ga [baby laughs and coos] LEILA: Ow.

(off-screen) I feel like a deeper sense of compassion for parents.

I wasn't really able to understand or internalize the amount of angst or worry that they had.

[Leila singing making funny sounds on-screen] (off-screen) Now I get it.

[chuckles] [laughing and singing on-screen] [gentle music] (off-screen) Child care is like a mortgage payment.

You know, I'm living hand to mouth as it is.

[laughing on-screen] [baby coos] LEILA: (off-screen) There's a long history of people of color taking care of white children and neglecting their own children in the process.

You know, like I'm gonna invest all this time and energy in the wellbeing of other people's children, but my child doesn't get half of what they get?

Is it solidifying a message that they deserve less?

[faint chatter and sounds of Leila pushing stroller] I don't think that all schools do this, but I get a good teacher tuition rate for Zion, which is great.

[chatter] -Hi bonita!

Oh, nice to meet you!

Wee.

LEILA: (off-screen) I get to entrust my child with people that I care about and care about me.

ANNE: (on-screen) Were you done?

You were just done.

[chatter of children and adults] LEILA: (off-screen) Care and education, you can't have one without the other.

TEACHER: Thank you Maxine!

Thank you!

[background chatter] -MARGARITA: [gasps] Peekaboo!

I see you!

[laughs] Hello.

Hello.

[laughs] You wanna see my— Ooh, you ripped my— [gasps] You ripped my mask!

[gasps] Oh, no!

You wanna see my face?

[gasps] See?

I'm gonna fix my mask.

LEILA: [sings] ♪ Los pajares los cantan MARGARITA: [sings] ♪ La luna se levanta LEILA: ♪ que sí, que no ♪ que caiga un champarrón MARGARITA: ♪ chaparrón LEILA: Champarrón?

MARGARITA: Chaparrón.

-Champ—?

-Chapa.

-Chapa... -rron.

LEILA: Chaparrón.

BOTH: ♪ que sí, que no ♪ que caiga un chaparrón MARGARITA: Until the end.

[both laugh] ANNE: I'm just gonna start us off with a check-in.

Who would like to let us know how you're doing?

[sympathetic music] MARGARITA: Um, I'm okay.

Little bit, uh... uh... [heavy hearted sigh] [weeping] I'll say, um, sad.

Because my mom, her feet is bad.

It's hard.

(off-screen) We just took my mom to the hospital.

The doctor say that she needs amputation.

Anne say, “Don't worry, Margo”" [chatter] “Family is first.” I feel guilty because it's hard to find a sub, but I need to take care of my mom.

[walker rolls and rattles on hard floor] I say, “Mom, slow down.

If you try to do things by yourself, you can fall.” And she say, “You don't know.” And I say, [whispers] Oh, my god— “Okay.” [Margarita's mom speaks in Spanish] -Nobody recognize I'm a teacher.

[both laugh] MARGARITA: (on-screen) Tortilla?

-Mm hm.

[clatter of tortilla press] MARGARITA: (off-screen) I want to be there at the school, but sooner or later, I need to retire.

My mom did a good job with me when I was little, so then now it's my turn to take care of her.

[traffic whirs by outside] [sighs] I don't know, it's tough.

[soft meditative music] ♪♪ [plastic bottle hits the floor] ♪♪ [plastic bottle hits floor and bounces] [bottle hits floor harder] [bottle bounces on floor] [faint chatter] [loud chatter] PATRICIA: I know, I know... [child cries] I can't pick you up, mama.

[children play and chatter] [child whines] I know.

I know.

I'm here.

Mami, I can't pick you up.

[child speaks- inaudible] PATRICIA: I know.

I know.

A ver, okay, okay.

[Patricia makes playful drinking sounds] Okay, okay... (off-screen) Right now, I can't do too much.

I need to be careful.

I just had a major surgery.

I didn't know it was- it's gonna be like that.

[scoffs] I lost a lot of blood.

[chatter] [toys clack] PATRICIA: (on-screen) Gentle, mami.

Gentle.

[toy thumping on table] (off-screen) It's hard for them.

They don't understand what's going on.

[blocks clatter on floor] PATRICIA: (to child) Ohhh!

But you know, I can't close my daycare.

I can't afford to close.

We don't have sick leave.

(on-screen) Oh my goodness.

[children chatter and play] PATRICIA: (off-screen) The state reject everything.

Every single proposal, they reject.

(on-screen) And congratulations for your graduation!

-Thank you!

-Amazing.

Amazing.

It's wonderful.

[child whines] [playpen creaks and thumps against floor] [active music] ♪♪ (off-screen) This is not fair.

We have a lot of support from the community, but it's sad we don't have support from the state.

[protesters chant] -What do we want?

-Healthy kids!

-What do we want?

-Healthy kids!

PATRICIA: (off-screen) Enough is enough.

We need to do something.

-What do we want?

-Support educators!

-What do we want?

-Support educators... -What's your name?

-Angela.

-Angela, Charlotte.

[group chants] Child care now!

Child care now!

Child care now!

Child care now!

Woo!

[crowd cheers] [applause] CHARLOTTE: Vanna ain't got nothing on me.

[cheers from crowd] Hello, beautiful people.

I am a family child care provider in Oakland for over 28 years.

[cheers from crowd] Women, essentially Black and brown women providers have been shouldering the burden of a broken child care system that's on the brink of collapse.

Right?

CROWD MEMBER: Right!

CHARLOTTE: We continue to call on our state to do its part, to provide fair pay, retirement and healthcare.

You matter.

Keep fighting.

[cheers from the crowd] -What do we want?

-Child care!

-When do we do want it?

Now!

CHARLOTTE: [on phone] 'Cause you missed work today, correct?

And we need you to keep that job.

Okay?

So you do qualify.

Just tell the agency, make it a serious need and let them know that this beautiful provider, Charlotte Guinn, Rose's Daycare, has been holding spots for you.

And she has 14 people on the waiting list, which is true.

Don't give up hope.

Tell her, “Please help me.” [chatter] It just seems so unfair when other countries have free child care, -Right.

-free school, -Right.

free college.

[scoffs] And, and this parent is trying to go to work and they're denied because they make $15 an hour.

-Yep.

-Like that's some money.

[serious music] [faint chatter] ♪♪ ♪♪ [children chatter] LEILA: You ready to read the book?

CHILD: Yes!

LEILA: Our skin.

We all have skin.

It comes in different colors.

ZION: Baaat LEILA: Oh, Zion is saying her skin is like that?

CHILD: That is nobody.

LEILA: Do we have same same or different?

-Different.

LEILA: It is different.

LEILA: All of these people are a family.

[chatter] LEILA: Yeah?

Who has same same skin in the family?

LEILA: Do you notice someone that has different skin in this family?

Who?

Who has different skin?

Ah, yes!

It seems this person has white skin in that family.

CHILD: Oh.

LEILA: Yeah.

You are noticing.

LEILA: [reading] Our skin is beautiful and strong and important just the way it is.

Is your skin strong and important?

CHILD: Yeah?

LEILA: Yeah?

Is my skin strong and important?

[child growls] Is Casey's skin strong and important?

Yeah?

CHILD: Yeah.

ANNE: Okay.

So does everyone remember that we're reading this book with children?

And we're thinking about, what are the children thinking about as we read this book to them?

Okay.

Go.

LEILA: What does this note say, Tara?

-Talks about facts and celebrates skin first before talking about racism.

-I think about that often when I'm reading books about racism because I want to present joyful, [chuckles] I guess, information about skin and difference before I introduce the like, not so fun side of it.

WOMAN: Like if the only thing we're talking about is the collective trauma— -Yeah.

—of a group of people.

-Yeah!

-Not all these amazing accomplishments.

LEILA: Just the trauma.

It only reinforces the idea of inferiority of a group of people.

And if you're reading this in the school setting, every kid is forced to think about it.

Like, it's not just like the Black kid that's at home thinking about it.

Like, it's like everybody's thinking about, like taking the burden of race being the people of color's like, experience or like, job to know and places it on everyone.

[quiet chatter] [indistinct tapping] CHILD: [singing] ♪ all around there's some raindrop ♪ MAISIE: You keep making raindrops.

You can make raindrops with this color!

[tapping marker] Dada.

Dooda.

Toot toot.

Tooty.

Toot toot.

Doo-da.

DAN: Who doo doo da da!

MAISIE: You can do that.

[tapping, markers rattle] [Dan inhales then exhales] [out-going ringtone] -Please leave us a detailed message and we will return your call.

[beep on phone] DAN: Hello, Golestan School.

This is Dan Harrison.

I apologize.

I realize that the school hours are closed right now and I feel funny leaving this on the general voicemail, but I'm going to.

I accept this invitation of employment at Golestan with all my heart and soul, and teaching capabilities.

And I look forward to this journey together.

I will talk to you soon.

[relieved exhale] I need a hug from my ladybug.

MAISIE: Oka-doka.

DAN: Oka-doka.

[children chatter] DAN: Who's next?

One and a two, and a one, two, three.

[Dan and children sing] ♪ Ellie's here today... DAN: (off-screen) I'm gonna miss making a circle.

♪ Hey ho.

Ellie's here today CHILD: I did it backwards!

DAN: (on-screen) Holy macaroni!

(off-screen) But I am gonna preschool the [bleep] out of 3rd and 4th grade.

[laughs] [singing] ♪ Hey ho, hey ho... DAN: My eyeball's here today?

[laughter] Yay!

[chatter] CHILD: You go like upside-down, like this.

DAN: That's a great idea.

That's your foot pedal?

Is there any more music you want me to play so that you can play along?

Is there any other songs?

-Yeah.

-What song?

CHILD: Don't Let Me Down.

That's it.

DAN: Don't Let Me Down?

CHILD: It's pretty yelly because they say, “Don't let me down” real loud.

[“Don't Let Me Down” by The Beatles plays on phone] CHILD: [sings] ♪ Down!

DAN: Yeah, let's hear it.

I'm gonna keep sweeping while you rock out.

Okay?

- ♪ Down!

[toys clatter nearby] [chatter] DAN: Take it away, “Bob.” Don't let me down, “Bob”— “Ringo.” “BOB”: No, I'm “Bob.” DAN: Oh, sorry, “Bob.” [“Bob” continues singing] [chatter] [children play while “Bob” sings “Don't let me down!”] “BOB”: [even louder] ♪ Don't let me down DAN: I will definitely not let you down.

[children chatter and laugh, another child cries nearby] DAN: That's a big hug, Quyen, Thank you.

[crosstalk] Was it scary?

-Yeah.

[cries] Yeah?

Aw.

Which chair were you on?

-[faintly] This one.

-And you just kinda fell off of there?

Yikes.

Can I have a hug now?

-Yah.

DAN: Okay.

Come here.

I need a hug.

Nothing like hugging a purple pen.

-Come on up, Dan.

[cheers and applause] -Paging Dan to the stage.

Paging Dan to the stage.

Feel like I'm on a dunk tank and you all have a ball, and you're like- [laughter] MARGARITA: Daniel, no te vayas.

[scattered laughter] Don't go.

[quiet laughter] Stay with us.

We need you.

-Thank you.

SUSAN: I think I've been in denial this whole year, [laughs] thinking that that other school would go away or, [chuckles] your job offers wouldn't happen.

[kiss] That other school is so lucky to have you.

[Dan blows through lips] ANNE: I'm angry that our society doesn't support this field enough for you to stay in your expertise.

And... [weeping] that's really sad to me.

I love you.

DAN: I love you too.

Thank you.

As the kids are going through this next step, it's hard for them.

[weeping] I realized this week that “Ringo” or “Bob,” ”George,” also known as Walden, has been singing, “Don't let me down.” He's been getting louder and louder every day, standing with his block playing guitar.

[exhales] I feel like I'm letting you all down.

♪♪ [warm, caring music] [warm, caring music] [faint seagulls squawking, children chatter] ♪♪ [quiet meditative music] [kids stirring] ♪♪ ♪♪ [pensive music] PATRICIA: (off-screen) This Friday is the end of our contract.

[bus engine whirs] ¿Se puede llenar para los niños?

-Yeah.

(Off-screen) If we don't have any resolution, it's gonna be very bad.

(speaking Spanish) ♪♪ PATRICIA: (off-screen) In one of the meetings, the state told us we were like essential workers when it was the pandemic, but we are not essential anymore.

[energetic acoustic guitar] [traffic whirs] ♪♪ ANNE: (off-screen) We don't have a union, but we are all... (on-screen) We are all the same.

We are all connected.

We're all doing the same care and education of young children in all of our different ways, and we're coming and saying, “You can't ignore us.” [faint chanting of protestors] [crosstalk from inside car] ANNE: Look at that.

It's a sea of yellow.

For me, it always comes back to teachers.

And what is the common goal?

It's to have teaching be seen as a profession that is respected and compensated.

[whoops and cheers] PATRICIA: [on-stage] (Spanish) -That's right.

[loud triumphant cheers] [from stage] -We are not babysitters.

[crowd cheers in agreement] ANNE: [marching band drums, people cheer and chant] [people blowing whistles, cheering, drumming] [loud chatter and chanting] [busy chatter] MAN: Thank you very much.

I appreciate everybody taking the time to coming on out here and meeting with me.

Agradezco tu que tomaron su tiempo para venir explicar su situaciónes.

My name is Patricia Moran.

I've been through a surgery almost three weeks ago.

After I returned from the hospital, the next day, I was working because I, I couldn't, I can't afford to close my daycare.

-We risk our homes, our business, our families' lives and you have given us nothing to show for it.

(Spanish) -One more.

I do have to get moving on shortly, so just- -Okay.

I'll make it fast, sir.

-Yes, ma'am.

-I'm, I'm a cancer survivor and I also have multiple sclerosis.

[supportive applause] I need the healthcare, and providers like me are struggling.

We need your assistance and we need fair wages so I can put my children through college.

[applause] -I need more than a pass on.

His kids are taken care of.

Mine are not.

WOMAN: Mm.

Right.

-We need help now.

-Yes.

-Right now.

[distant traffic, faint bell] PATRICIA: Hi, honey.

¿Cómo estás?

(Spanish) [heavy sigh] PATRICIA: (off-screen) We stay in the meeting until two o'clock in the morning.

[breeze rustles leaves] I couldn't sleep.

I was thinking that, oh, my God, today is the end of the contract.

What is gonna happen?

(on-screen) Ow, ow, ow, ow.

BOY: Ah so cute!

PATRICIA: Hi, mami!

Are you tired?

[baby fusses] Oh, you're tired.

BOY: So cute!

So cute.

PATRICIA: I know, she's so cute.

[baby hiccups] But around one o'clock in the afternoon, things start changing, changing for good!

[buoyant music] REPORTER: After months of advocating, the Child Care Providers United Union won a pay increase and funding for benefits in the state's budget.

PATRICIA: We were like, “Really?” REPORTER: This is the highest rate increase they've ever received, at 20%.

-Maybe they're tricking us.

It's too good for... [laughs] to believe.

REPORTER: The new deal also includes 100 million per year for healthcare funding and 80 million for retirement funding.

PATRICIA: And... we had the deal.

[burst of joyous laughter] [faint chatter] PATRICIA: (off-screen) It's like it covered a very big wound with a small band aid, but it opened the door.

[chatter] There were some providers, they start this fight 20 years ago, when nobody put any, any value to our jobs.

Some of them, they die, they pass away fighting.

They pass away with a hope to change things.

And now it's getting better.

[baby coos, children chatter] We are going to keep fighting, keep working so that the future of other providers that are coming to work, they're gonna have more benefits.

They're not going to struggle like we, we are— we did it.

That's, you know, is the legacy.

(on-screen) Oh, my God.

It's all your family!

CHILD: That's me and my mom.

PATRICIA: That's awesome!

CHILD: I wanna do that!

(off-screen) Oh, they're gonna be so surprised.

[paper rustles] CHARLOTTE: [gasps excitedly] Number one mom.

[scissors scrape ribbon] (off-screen) Our new contract, it's a start.

We are thankful because you're going from zero to ten, but we wanna go from zero to a hundred.

(on-screen) Ooh, that smells good.

[clatter of cookie sheet] Ah!

I just felt that someone's coming.

[children chatter] This is the birthday boy.

Here, I have something for you.

The teachers and I want you to know you are outstanding.

-Thank you so much.

-So you gotta open this.

-Okay.

Thank you.

-'Cause you da bomb mom.

-Aw, this is so pretty and I'ma wear it at his party tomorrow.

Thank you.

CHARLOTTE: And you better- -I really like this and I appreciate you.

-Okay.

So that's— [crosstalk] I'm just being no good.

-Okay.

Thank you so much.

-Okay.

You keep your head up.

-Okay.

Okay.

[crosstalk] You're getting that promotion at work, I'm so proud of you.

-Yes.

And my pay is going up— -Yay!

You're, you're not just a pretty face.

[door clanks] CHARLOTTE: This is special because you're special.

-Thank you.

-And, and when you go through hard times, we want you to know you're super mom.

(off-screen) Pouring into our communities, this is what we do.

(on-screen) We've been holding this surprise.

Oh, man, y'all gonna make [inaudible] CHARLOTTE: Look.

Come here.

Come here.

We love you.

Come here.

-I don't never get treated this good!

Oh, my God.

Thank you.

You keep it up.

CHARLOTTE: Hello!

Give me my baby.

Okay, I have something for you.

[crosstalk] -Okay.

[mother gasps quietly] [crinkling plastic] [emotional] Auntie Rose.

CHARLOTTE: You are so special.

Your babies love you.

[mother laughs joyfully] CHARLOTTE: We love you.

-My whole family loves them being here.

We love you.

We appreciate you and everything like... Aw, Auntie Rose, Thank you guys.

-Yeah.

We love you, man.

-Probably the best gift I've ever gotten on any Mother's Day.

-Give me another hug.

-Thank you so much, Auntie Rose.

CHARLOTTE: (off-screen) If parents didn't have to worry about child care, oh, my God... What kind of world would that be?

[chatter, Charlotte laughs] CHARLOTTE: Okay bye!

[cars whir by] [objects moving, clinking] LEILA: How do you want your hair?

ZION: Did you what my hair.

-Do you want a ponytail?

Bun-bun?

-A bun-bun.

-One bun-bun or two bun-bun?

-One bun-bun.

-One bun-bun?

-Yeah.

-Okay.

ZION: A bun-bun like mama.

LEILA: A bun-bun like mama!

All right.

Can we go put on a new diaper [kiss] and your dress?

But can I tell you something?

-Yeah.

-Today is your last day in mama's classroom.

[quiet, tender guitar music] -I wanna go in my classroom.

-Yeah.

You're gonna go in your Dolphin classroom?

You're gonna be a big dolphin?

-No.

I'm gonna be a whale.

-You're g— [laughs] okay.

ZION: There's a squidy in your hair.

I got squidy.

-Squidy.

[Zion sneezes] LEILA: Oh!

[another big wet sneeze] LEILA: [displeased] Awww!

[Zion vocalizes, Leila is out of breath] [bike and feet shuffle on asphalt] ZION: Mom!

Come!

LEILA: Yes.

Why are we having a party?

CHILD: Because party.

LEILA: Because party!

We're having a party because you're not gonna be butterflies anymore.

CHILD: Wee!

-Bye-bye, butterflies!

Hello, dolphins!

CHILD: Good dolphin.

[paper rustles] Good dolphin.

[crinkling, quiet chatter] [cheering, clapping] [children play and chatter] ANNE: I feel like this group has become such a tight-knit community.

I see it in the play in the yard when the children are are able to [voice fades] ADULT: They all matter.

CHILD: They all matter!

-Mm hm.

ANNE: (off-screen) I love this work.

[children laugh] It is a sacred responsibility to care for our children.

TEACHER: Maisie!

[cheers and applause] ANNE: Helping them learn how to be citizens with agency, respecting their voice, caring about their feelings and thoughts, helping them have healthy relationships that are important to them.

TEACHER: And the Rainbow of the Stars teachers!

[cheers and applause] ANNE: (off-screen) You can't put a price tag on that.

That's... essential.

[chatter and celebration on screen] At some point, when does it become unsustainable for us to keep doing this work?

Less and less people are interested in entering the field.

It's gonna be harder and harder to sustain doing this work at all.

And we need to, as a society, have an answer for that.

[music fades] What are we gonna do when we can't do this anymore?

But there are answers.

There are really simple answers, and we can do it.

We just have to have a will to do it and then, um, find a way.

And we, we can do that, if people listen to us.

[burst of laughter] [others in room join in laughter] [inspiring, energizing music] ♪♪