Leading into the Future
“There is nothing that succeeds in life like boldness, provided you believe you are on the right side.” – Woodrow Wilson
Beyond the confidence that we are on the right side, it’s a deep conviction that inspires and informs EPIC’s (Executives Partnering to Invest in Children) bold work to ensure the strength of Colorado’s economic future by supporting its workforce and families today. We thank the voters and business leaders of Colorado for sharing that conviction and joining with us on Election Day to actualize a foundational element of our vision by ratifying Proposition EE. Through taxation of tobacco and nicotine vaping products, universal preschool will now be a reality for all Colorado four-year-old children.
Our nation’s businesses are confronting challenges more critical than at any other period in history, including the growing shortage and lack of access to child care for the workforce. In response to a recent survey of Colorado parents, 79% of responders revealed that they had experienced at least one incident related to child care that had an adverse impact on their work situation.
Talented workers, especially women, are leaving the workforce in response to the lack of quality, affordable, child care options. The availability of suitable child care would enable them to remain in jobs, especially those that are more traditionally structured. As the pandemic has made clear, however, even remote and home-based workers lack child care solutions. Without them, Colorado’s economy will suffer and decline as valuable employees – compelled to prioritize their family commitments – withdraw from the workforce.
EPIC’s members and Board of Directors are leaders in the business community who are committed to finding bold solutions that help businesses, workers, and children thrive – and through these solutions, leave a legacy of change for Colorado’s future. EPIC acts as a catalyst to facilitate discussions and implement innovative solutions that empower the business community to build a stable workforce by focusing on its youngest, future leaders.
Having helped secure universal kindergarten, and now preschool, for Colorado’s children, we step resolutely into the next phase of our work. To dynamically convey our commitments and pursuits, we’ve built a bold, new brand that includes a vibrant, new website and the transformation of our logo. The logo’s colors represent the diversity that enriches our communities and sparks our ideas. The arrows represent multiple partners from business, nonprofit and government sectors that have come together to advance our common goal and purpose while supporting each other and edifying our future generation.
We appreciate the extraordinary contributions of the visionary community leaders who work to advance EPIC’s cause and to demonstrate “What’s good for children is good for business.” We greatly appreciate Governor Jared Polis taking time to be part of EPIC’s recent Annual Business Leaders Event, his recognition of EPIC’s contributions, and acknowledgement of the role we will enthusiastically embrace in developing the state’s universal preschool program. As he noted, “We have an amazing opportunity to make transformational change by giving young children the opportunity that every child deserves – access to early childhood care and education.”
To learn more about our mission and the critical contributions made by our executive members as they build a legacy for future generations of Colorado business, watch our video, “I Am EPIC.” As was the case with Abraham Lincoln, we too believe that “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” We hope you’ll join us.
