Stamford families turned out for this year’s Early Childhood Fair, an annual community event that brought together families, early childhood providers, educators and local partners for a day focused on connection, resources and opportunity for young children.
Hosted by Stamford Cradle to Career and its community partners, the fair offered families direct access to information on childcare, school readiness, developmental support, community programs and other essential resources that help children thrive from their earliest years. The event reflected a shared commitment across Stamford to strengthening the early childhood ecosystem and ensuring families have the support they need.
“The annual Early Childhood Fair is an awesome example of collective action at work,” said Edith Presley, president of Stamford Cradle to Career. “SC2C brings together families, students, childcare providers and the community to provide greater access to quality and affordable childcare support in Stamford.”
This year’s fair underscored the importance of continued collaboration among nonprofits, educators, childcare providers and community leaders working together to close gaps in access and create more equitable outcomes for families.
“In 2026, a strong Early Childhood Care System is not just about access — it is about equity, partnership and building a foundation where every child and family can thrive from the very beginning,” said Melanie Amador, community engagement and partnerships manager.
The Early Childhood Fair is part of broader efforts to strengthen systems of support for Stamford children and families and to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed from cradle to career.
Stamford Cradle to Career is a collective impact partnership with a solid and committed cross-sector collaboration that is based on the nationally recognized StriveTogether Cradle to Career Framework in creating a community-wide partnership. It is a road map to change and a new way for community stakeholders to work together. The overarching goal of Stamford Cradle to Career is to collectively align community resources to ensure that all youth succeed in education, career and life because successful children lead to a vibrant and thriving community. The partnership convenes over one hundred volunteers from the community, nonprofit agencies, Stamford Public Schools, the city of Stamford, and the business community to create, align, implement, assess and grow interventions that support the educational success of children and their families. United Way Coastal and Western Connecticut serves as the anchor and backbone entity providing management and fiscal support for the partnership.
United Way Coastal and Western Connecticut (UWCWC) envisions a community where every person is healthy, safe and economically secure. It works in partnership with the community to address critical needs and advance equitable pathways to wellbeing and financial security for everyone. It is committed to improving the lives of the 40% of its neighbors who work hard but earn incomes below the ALICE® threshold (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). UWCWC serves 27 communities across Fairfield and southern Litchfield counties, including the Cities of Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk, and Stamford, and the towns of Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Kent, Monroe, New Canaan, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Stratford, Trumbull, Warren, Washington, Westport, Wilton, and Weston, Connecticut.
