When I met Katy Dicks— a Wisconsin mom of two who works two jobs—I was struck by what a good communicator she is. She doesn’t use jargon or terms that I have to Google later— she just says things plain. In her OpEd below, her message is simple: She and her husband had to pay more than their mortgage for childcare; too many other parents are doing the same; it’s not crazy to ask for a better system.
Katy’s words may be down-to-earth, but she’s a dreamer. She wants us to imagine systems— and a world— better than what we have. In our conversations together, she has said many things, but one thing she has said repeatedly: “I want my children to have choices.”
That’s why she’s a good communicator: She’s inviting you to dream with her.
Just as Katy submitted her OpEd (below) to local papers this morning, she learned that Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Republican lawmakers reached a budget deal that did not meet advocates demands and could harm childcare programs and families in the state. While this is a blow, Katy’s vision of the future is unwavering. “The fight continues…” she emailed me just now.
Click below to find Katy’s OpEd on why her state should fund childcare.
Mother Forward 