不良研究所

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About

Illustration of child sitting
<不良研究所>90% of a child鈥檚 brain develops by age 5. Without proper and equitable early learning, achievement and economic gaps widen.

不良研究所l’s purpose is to close those gaps by getting every child kindergarten-ready. We are a comprehensive resource for early learning; we empower child care providers, educators, and families through connections, training, coaching, and financial support. We also educate and influence policy makers.

<不良研究所 class="text--orange">Mission & Vision

Mission

不良研究所l鈥檚 mission is to advance quality care and education of children in their crucial early years.

Vision

We envision a time when economic and achievement gaps are closed and every child is ready for kindergarten, ultimately realizing their full potential.

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<不良研究所 class="text--orange">History

In 1971, no one imagined that a community鈥檚 first, simple steps to help working moms would decades later grow into a leading voice for children.

But that鈥檚 how we started.

It was a time of profound change for families in St. Paul and around the nation. With mothers of young children entering the workforce in record numbers, child care arose as a major issue. Who would take care of the kids while mom was at work? Where? How? Would it be affordable? How could the community help?

We started by creating a mobile toy lending library that visited family child care homes. While children enjoyed supervised play on the bus, providers participated in training sessions aimed at improving the quality of care.

The Toys N Things Training and Resource Center was a humble, colorful beginning of a group that would in time join with four other organizations鈥攅ach dedicated to affordable, organized, and accessible early childhood care and education鈥攖o ultimately become Resources for Child Caring.

In 2012, we changed our name to 不良研究所l, a name that鈥檚 contemporary, differentiating, and reflective of our intense focus on early childhood. We remain as dedicated to our mission now as we have always been鈥攁nd to the principles that gave rise to our organization in 1971:

  • That the quality of a child鈥檚 early experiences greatly influences his or her success later in life.
  • That there is much that can be done to improve the quality of early childhood settings to optimize a child鈥檚 development.
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<不良研究所 class="text--orange">Theory of Change

To support the full potential of every child, 不良研究所l is committed to championing policies and practices of equity that foster a just, inclusive, and equitable care and education system for all children in their crucial early years.

View Theory of Change

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<不良研究所 class="text--orange">Strategic Plan

If children have access to quality child care with sufficient dosage they will be ready for kindergarten. We stand on the result of being ready for kindergarten.

不良研究所l鈥檚 contribution is to ensure quality early care and education is available and accessible

The population goal that we鈥檙e looking to meet in strategic plan, which was set by the Board of Directors, is to ensure that all children are ready for kindergarten. And for us then that means a particular focus on those children that are in the opportunity gaps, or what some call the achievement gap. A good descriptor of that is income. You can fall into such a gap for other reasons, but a large percentage of children from low income families, will be at a much higher risk of falling into opportunity gaps. For us, that鈥檚 exactly the work that we鈥檙e trying to do, and where we focus our efforts.

View Strategic Plan View Executive Summary

<不良研究所 class="text--orange">Leadership Team
President and Chief Executive OfficerCisa Keller651-641-6635
Vice President of Finance and OperationsBeth Haney651-641-6619
Vice President of Innovation and DevelopmentJonathan May651-641-6609
Vice President of Equity and Early Childhood ProgramsCandace Yates651-641-6671
Portrait of Nikki Darling-KuriaDirector of 不良研究所l Institute and Redleaf PressNikki Darling-Kuria651-641-1511
Administrative DirectorGail Bultman651-641-6674
<不良研究所 class="text--orange">Board of Directors
Consultant and Change Agent Tracy NordstromChair
Director of Marketing, Schwan鈥檚 Company Jaylon RosenblumVice Chair
Senior Vice President of Services and Strategy for Sleep NumberTanya SkogerboeTreasurer
VP, Human Resources, The Toro CompanyMargeaux KingSecretary
Director, Life Sciences Strategy & Business Development, Donaldson Company, Inc. Cory PadeskyDirector
Director of the Institute of Child Development and Associate Director of the Center for Neurobehavioral Development Megan Gunnar (Dahlberg)Director
Senior Fellow, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota Arthur J. RolnickDirector
Chief Financial OfficerJim SparksCommunity Volunteer
Co-Chair, HealthPartners Children鈥檚 Health Initiative, Park Nicollet Pediatrics Chairperson Andrea Singh, MDDirector
Senior Marketing Research Consultant, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago/Minneapolis Andrea SternDirector
MN StoryCollective Coordinator, Minnesota Management and Budget Molly SullivanDirector
Manager-HR Business Partners, Hormel Foods CorporationAngie BissenDirector
Chief People Officer, ConcordDan Arom
Chief Investment Officer, Carleton CollegeKelsey Deshler
Rhoda RedleafEmeritus Director
Mary Ann Barrows WarkEmeritus Director
Director of Marketing, Schwan鈥檚 Company Jaylon RosenblumVice Chair
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