Stacey Sunderland

Friends,

Children thrive when they are surrounded by people who believe in them: caring families, skilled educators, and communities that show up. For 37 years, The Alliance for Early Childhood has worked to build exactly that kind of world on the North Shore and across the greater Chicago area. Through programs like Screen Break and Let's Play, conferences that now reach more than 350 educators, and a willingness to respond when our community needs us most, we have remained a trusted partner through every season.

I am deeply honored to step into the role of Executive Director at this remarkable organization. My connection to this work goes back many years. As Board President, I watched firsthand as The Alliance brought parents, teachers, and neighbors together around something simple and powerful: a shared belief that every child deserves to thrive. That experience shaped me, and it is the reason I show up every day committed to this mission.

Looking ahead, my focus is on three things: supporting educator excellence, deepening family engagement, and building the financial foundation that will carry The Alliance through the next 40 years. The world our children are growing up in is changing fast. From the growing presence of AI to the ongoing mental health challenges that families and educators continue to navigate. The Alliance will change with it, staying as nimble and responsive as we have always been.

Most of all, I want every family, educator, and community partner to feel genuinely welcome. This work belongs to all of us.

Thank you for being part of it.

Warmly, Stacey Sunderland Executive Director