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The Team

The BUILD Initiative is a team of early childhood professionals who are committed to building and sustaining high-quality, comprehensive, early childhood systems that are equitable for marginalized children and families, many of whom have faced discrimination based on race, ethnicity, language, or immigration status.

We have decades of experience with state and local early childhood systems, education reform, health, human services, political campaigns, communications, and messaging. Each team member brings a deep understanding of how to engage disparate constituencies and forge common ground to advance a comprehensive policy agenda.

Aarthi Arcot

Research Associate / Whole Family Systems Evaluation Partner

Aedra Jones

TA Specialist, National ECE Workforce Center

Tameika Leslie

Early Care and Education, Quality Improvement Initiatives Project Director

Debi Mathias

Early Care and Education, Quality Improvement Initiatives Director

Kemi Nnaji

Senior Associate, Research and Evaluation

Minnesota Early Chilldhood Fellowship

The BUILD Initiative has been given the opportunity to host three 10-month fellowships, with each fellow placed within a state project team supporting specific aspects of the implementation of Minnesota’s Preschool Development Grant B-5.