WHEREAS, on May 12 organizations nationwide are recognizing our childcare providers; and
WHEREAS, childcare provides a safe, nurturing place for the enrichment and development of millions of children nationwide, and is a vital force in our economy; and
WHEREAS, the pandemic illuminated how indispensable childcare providers are for the well-being and economic security of our young children, families, and communities; and
WHEREAS, childcare programs, which are mostly small businesses, run and staffed predominantly by women, are still recovering from health and financial hardships stemming from the pandemic while they have continued to meet the needs of families; and
WHEREAS, our future depends on the quality of the early childhood experiences provided to young children today; support for high-quality childcare represents a worthy commitment to our children’s future; and
WHEREAS, we applaud the efforts of our Salt Lake City Division of Youth & Family Programs team and the childcare providers who support our YouthCity program and extend learning through hands-on experiential community focused activities; and
WHEREAS, YouthCity fosters positive youth development in Salt Lake City, by providing out-of-school opportunities for social, emotional, skills, character, and citizenship development in an inclusive and caring environment; and
WHEREAS, YouthCity serves Salt Lake City’s young people from kindergarten to age 19 with innovative and enriching activities created with input from participants. The programs are located throughout Salt Lake City, where young people can have fun while learning new skills. YouthCity programs create safe spaces for youth to develop, explore and connect; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City recognizes that child care has been a lifeline for families, communities, and the economy and as such, has provided much-needed support to providers to help sustain the viability of high-quality affordable childcare services for Salt Lake City families during out of school time hours.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Erin Mendenhall, Mayor of Salt Lake City, proclaim May 12, 2023, as:
Provider Appreciation Day in Salt Lake City
To view the electronically signed copy of the proclamation, click here.