Community
Thriving in the diverse beauty and space that connects all of us.
About
Our storyone initiative at a time
CEC is an incubator of equity — bringing together multi-sector partners, ideas, and resources to solve real-world problems.
Community Equity Collaborative was founded by Menlo Park residents Dayna Chung, Heather Hopkins, and Timi Brock Most to launch and support initiatives for educational equity and early learning on the San Francisco Peninsula.
We move the needle on systems change one project at a time. We bring concrete solutions by launching pilot programs, creating content, building awareness, and connecting people across sectors.
Our projects are local and short-term, with the intention of spinning them off to live with other organizations. We have simple criteria: they feel right, create tangible impact, and can benefit from our mix of strengths in communication and strategy.
Our team is small and intentional. We stay nimble and relevant by accessing a deep braintrust of partners, who enable us to stay current, connected, and in touch with those doing work on the ground.
Where we've been
Launch, prove, hand off — repeated since 2017.
- 2017
Three neighbors, one idea
Menlo Park residents Dayna Chung, Heather Hopkins, and Timi Brock Most create Community Equity Collaborative, which officially becomes a nonprofit in 2018. Its first project, Best Foot Forward, distributes 7,000 pairs of shoes to young children.
- 2018
The Teacher Pipeline Project launches
Created in response to the shortage of early childhood educators, the project later inspires AB 1073 — a fee-waiver bill for community college ECE students introduced with Assemblymember Marc Berman in 2019–2020.
- 2020–21
Answering the pandemic
CEC serves on the San Mateo County Child Care Response Team, leads advocacy for and administers the Child Care Relief Fund — more than $5 million to 287 programs serving 8,000+ children — and fundraises for and administers the $1.98 million Learning Hubs Initiative, supporting 741 K–12 students, 97% of them socioeconomically disadvantaged.
- 2022
New fronts, and a first hand-off
Rainbow Kids launches, and mental health excused absence resources are created with SafeSpace to build awareness of SB 14. In December, the Child Care Partnership Council of San Mateo County honors CEC with its Community Partner Award — and the Teacher Pipeline Project transitions to Upward Scholars, continuing as TeacherUp from January 2023.
- 2024
Rainbow Kids en Español
Rainbow Kids expands with the launch of Rainbow Kids en Español.
- 2025
Climate action for early childhood
Build Up San Mateo County publishes the San Mateo County Early Childhood Climate Action Plan with CEC's support — the first county-centered climate action plan focused on early childhood. Early implementation begins, including community tree plantings at three East Palo Alto child care centers.
Our name is our values
Equity
Working toward a fair and just future.
Collaborative
Leveraging the power of shared purpose and collective wisdom.
This is how we work: launch, prove, and hand off to a partner positioned to sustain it.