Powered by Illinois Action for Children, We, the Village is a coalition of families, caregivers, educators, and providers to ensure all families have access to quality education and care of their choosing.
Our Story
2025
We, the Village continued its advocacy on the state budget and remained actively engaged with IDEC. In 2025, following the passage of House Bill 1—the federal Congressional reconciliation budget bill—the coalition expanded its focus to include federal issues. This work included hosting public information sessions across Illinois on Medicaid and SNAP access for families. In response to increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Chicago and other parts of the state, We, the Village also developed tools and resources to help child care providers and families ensure the safety and well-being of children in their care.
2024
We, the Village began its close engagement with the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), the new early childhood state agency officially signed into law by Governor Pritzker on June 25, 2024. WTV began as the Early Childhood Funding Coalition, a grassroots coalition with the goal of influencing recommendations from the Governor’s Early Childhood Funding
Commission. Recommendation #3 urges one, centralized early childhood education and care state agency, marking IDEC as a significant win for the coalition’s mission and vision.
Commission. Recommendation #3 urges one, centralized early childhood education and care state agency, marking IDEC as a significant win for the coalition’s mission and vision.
2023
We, the Village focused on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, pushing specifically for further investment in the Smart Start Illinois Initiative. The coalition’s collective advocacy contributed to nearly an additional $300 million in early childhood education and care funding in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), including the Smart Start Illinois initiative that will provide $75 million more for the Early Childhood Block Grant funded through the Illinois State Board of Education, $170 million more for Workforce Compensation Contracts and the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), $40 million more for Early Intervention, and $5 million more to expand home visiting programs.
2022
We, the Village advocated for a 10% increase for all early childhood programs and services in the Illinois state budget for Fiscal Year 2023 through social media, testimonies in Springfield, and a virtual Advocacy Day, among others. We encouraged over 2,000 people to send letters to Illinois state legislators urging their support. The FY23 budget was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker in April 2022 and included a 6% increase to early childhood programs and services, including new funding to Early Intervention and evidence-based home visiting programs—the first increase in almost two decades.
2021
We, the Village Coalition launched Right to Care IL! This story-driven campaign, developed in collaboration with parents and service providers, effects change through public awareness actions. The campaign works to increase state and federal funding, involve parents and providers in decision-making processes, and ensure those processes are racially equitable and inclusive.
2020
We, the Village Coalition successfully influenced the recommendations of Governor Pritzker’s Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care Funding. Our recommendation served as a roadmap for the state’s investment in young learners through a more accessible system for families.
2019
Our diverse coalition of families, caregivers, early educators and providers, school districts, faith-based groups, non-profit organizations, and community members launched We, the Village Coalition to build momentum for transformational change in Illinois’ early childhood care and education system.