Early Childhood Alliance Is an Important Boost for Families

When Azalea and Wilfredo Carpio lived in Venezuela, they owned a distribution company that provided a secure life for their family. But as the economic crisis there deepened, the business faltered, and Wilfredo began cleaning houses to augment their income. They eventually realized there was no way to make things work there.

“We sold everything we owned to move to Utah in 2017, and thanks to a friend who referred us, we found Park City,” Wilfredo said. “Since then, we’ve worked in restaurants, usually two or three jobs, and we were able to make it and are thriving now, all things considered.”

But Covid threw them another curveball this year; both Carpios were laid off from their service sector jobs when Park City shut down in March. The couple scrambled to pay bills, stay healthy, and take care of their young sons Isaac, 11, and Maxi, 3 – and found themselves struggling once again. This time, early childhood education programs supported by the Early Childhood Alliance were there to lend a hand.

Formed last year by Park City Community Foundation, the Early Childhood Alliance ensures that all children can have the opportunities they need during critical developmental years up to age three.

The Carpios were able to access affordable childcare at PC Tots, where Maxi receives vital early education. Holy Cross Ministries provided household goods as well as services through its Parents as Teachers program, contributing to Maxi’s learning and development through weekly home

visits and even providing information that helped with Isaac, Wilfredo said.

As vulnerable local families struggle through pandemic-related stresses and economic hardship, the Early Childhood Alliance has grown more crucial than ever, operating as a multipurpose safety net to ensure the health, well-being, and school-readiness of the community’s youngest residents.

One family at a time, the alliance is addressing a crisis of equity and opportunity: Locally, more than half of children in low-income families are not ready for kindergarten when they start school, a deficit that can have lifelong effects and impact the broader community as well.

The Carpios are deeply grateful for the support they’ve received during this time, and even found a silver lining in their current situation.

“We’re looking at the positives. When we were forced to stay at home, we recognized that we missed each other and that we needed to make more time to spend together as a family. For the first time in three years I had weekends off and was able to go explore what our community has to offer – I went to the lake for the first time!”