I come from Chile, the longest country in the world, and immigrated to the United States 28 years ago following the love of my life. Today, I am a proud wife and mother of two creative and wonderful daughters who inspire my work every day. 

I am the owner and director of Arco Iris Bilingual Children’s Center (AIBCC) in Prince George’s County, where this September I will celebrate 14 years of serving our community. AIBCC is a full‑time bilingual early care and education program that embraces diversity and inclusion while uplifting the essential truth that childcare matters. I am currently in my third year partnering with Early Head Start and Head Start, serving many immigrant families across the county. 

For 28 years, I have been a passionate advocate for early childhood education supporting teachers, families, and young children while elevating the voices of childcare providers. My advocacy has included participation in Child Care Aware of America’s project with StoryCorps and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, roundtable discussions with the Democratic Women’s Caucus, and congressional childcare briefings. In 2021, I served as a resource expert at the Hunt‑Kean Leadership Fellows Early Childhood Workforce convening. I have also joined national rallies, including introducing Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a Childcare for Every Family Network event in support of Build Back Better. 

I recently earned my Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University—a milestone that holds deep meaning for me as someone who arrived in this country without speaking English. I am also a graduate of the University of Maryland–Baltimore County’s Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Education Program, where I later earned an Endorsement in Early Childhood Leadership. 

Over the last two years, I have had the privilege of providing professional development in Spanish at conferences and community events for early childhood educators who do not speak English. Being able to share my knowledge in early childhood education in my native language has allowed me to reach educators who are often overlooked or excluded from professional learning opportunities. It is deeply important to me to empower women in childcare—especially immigrant women—to access coaching, mentoring, and high‑quality professional development. Because I am bilingual, I can open doors for others who, like me years ago, are navigating this field while learning a new language. Offering these opportunities in Spanish is one of the most meaningful parts of my work. 

I currently serve as a board member of the Latino Childcare Association (LCAM), a member‑at‑large and chair of advocacy for Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA), and an active member of Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children’s (MDAEYC). I was appointed by the Governor to be a State Early Childhood Advisory Council member. 

As an immigrant woman leading in early childhood education, having a seat at this table is profoundly meaningful to me. It reflects the importance of representation and the power of lived experience in shaping policies that impact children, families, and the childcare workforce. I am honored to contribute my voice, my story, and my commitment to strengthening early childhood education within the childcare setting.