Carrying the Torch for Education

By Eva D. Coleman
Lifestyle & Culture Editor

Olympian champions early childhood learning

As a high school student, Allyson Felix was set on the path of her most notable success. Joining the track team as a freshman opened her lane to becoming the most decorated female track and field athlete in Olympic history. As a wife and mother to a young daughter, now expecting her second child, Felix prioritizes education readiness at a young age for her growing family.

“I want my children to be prepared to go to kindergarten,” Felix said. “I think the time when they’re still at home, the time when they’re preschool age, making sure that that’s a productive time, and that I’m setting them up to be learners for life.”

Recently in Dallas at the Ritz-Carlton hotel for the Educational First Steps “Striving for Greatness with Allyson Felix” Benefit Gala on Feb. 20, 2024, many clamored at the opportunity to get a photo with the Olympian. There was a one-on-one conversation in front of the audience, led by Kristi Nelson of NBC 5 who also served as the event emcee. Following the conversation was a spirited, live auction with people bidding on extravagant gifts and opportunities.

Educational First Steps President & CEO Vickie Allen-Brown gave greetings, filled with emotions of joy in seeing young kids soar; even if their dream, as a couple of children stated in the video that was shown, to be a Power Ranger or a ninja kid when they grow up. It drew laughter from the crowd, however the mission was clear… to raise awareness and funds for childcare centers and home-based providers, especially for the birth to age five students they empower and serve.

“Most importantly, we have in this room a group of supporters shining a light on a crisis that exists in early childhood education today,” Allen-Brown said during her remarks. “Despite being one of the most crucial stages in human development, early childhood education continues to be underfunded in our American economy.”

Allen-Brown cited statistics that were known to some and alarming to others in the audience.

“The U.S. invests on average about $10,000 for children from age five to 18, while only allocating $2,800 for kids three to four.” Allen-Brown said. She added, “Texas does not mandate children to go to kindergarten, and that is the hardest thing to grapple with because they need to be in classrooms.”

Allen-Brown then shared her often posed question with the crowd.

“Why are we investing the least where the return is the greatest?”

The “Striving for Greatness with Allyson Felix” gala raised over $800,000 during their signature event, giving attendees the opportunity to fortify their commitment of ensuring students have a strong start to help them get to the finish line.

The evening also included presentations of the Early Childhood Champion Award, bestowed in individual and corporate categories to Jennifer Mosle and Berry Corporation respectively.

Evern Speers, who has owned StoryTime Overnight Child Care Services in Cedar Hill, Texas for 14 years, made it a priority to support and attend the Educational First Steps gala.

“This event is a privileged event that helps promote the childcare industry, so anything that helps promote our industry, I feel helps promote the children, helps promote education, I want to be a part of that,” Speers said.

Speers started StoryTime Overnight Child Care out of a need she noticed in her community.

“I originally wanted something different and I saw that in our area, there were no help for parents with unusual schedules; the 12-8 nurses, 10-7 in the morning shifts, and so I thought, ‘Well, I think I can address that because there’s a need for that and I have a big house with just me and my husband,’” Speers said.

Her idea quickly grew into a full house.

“I started out with a couple of clients and word spread like hot water and before I knew it, I just had kids all the time and I loved it,” Speers said.

Speers could hardly contain her excitement as she expressed the joy she felt in the relief experienced by families who entrusted their children with her care.

“Their faces, knowing their kids were secure and they didn’t have to call me, they didn’t have to worry while they were working those weird hours; it just heated my heart like nothing else I had done before; and that was it, that was all it took.”

Speers and countless others are caring for children at pivotal moments of growth.

With many medals of award-winning moments to her credit, Olympian and Black maternal health advocate Allyson Felix sees what they are providing for families as good as gold.

“To have access to early stage education at such a crucial point where we know our children are really developing,” Felix said. That’s why I love how Educational First Steps has invested in there and they understand how important that is.” For more information, visit educationalfirststeps.org