My Journey to Greatness- Damaris Alvarado

​My Early Entrepreneurship Journey…
My name is Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez and my journey into the world of childcare was completely unexpected. At the young age of 21, I opened a bar/restaurant in Brooklyn NY. I knew very little about becoming an entrepreneur, but I had a strong work ethic, dedication and command of money management that gave me more opportunities than others in my community who didn't speak English very well.  The business proved to be successful, however it took up much of my time as a single mother. Eventually, I decided to end this venture by selling off my shares and parting ways with my business partner. Several years later, I launched a second enterprise specializing in insurance billing and collections in New York; only to close it shortly after the 9/11 attack when we moved to Philadelphia with our two daughters at the time.
Philadelphia, here I come…
We decided to take a risk and move to Philadelphia. It was an unfamiliar place for us since we knew nobody there and had no connections or support. Fortunately, my husband Franck started his own business, and I was able to find work as a medical assistant/phlebotomist in the Oncology-Hematology ward at Jefferson University Hospital. After that, I studied for EMT/Paramedic courses. The job was challenging, but it allowed me to make important contacts due to my hardworking attitude. Nonetheless, corporate America did not appreciate my entrepreneurial ambitions, so they laid me off in 2002. This unexpected event proved beneficial as it enabled me to pursue my current career path.
Welcome to Childcare by Accident…
When I was laid-off, it came as an unexpected relief. The Oncology/Hematology Department provided financial security that allowed me to take some time off, be home with my daughters, and consider my next career move. This newfound freedom prompted me to volunteer at the YMCA, where my daughter attended their afterschool/summer camp program. It was there that I met Abigail. I heard one of my daughter's teachers say they wanted to get back to work but needed childcare for their newborn. Without a second thought, I offered to look after them until a better alternative emerged. Abigail was the first child in my care, and before long that became six within three months - with a wait list! News must have spread of what I was providing because requests started flooding in. After discussing this with my husband, we realized that this could be turned into something serious - so we made sure we were complying with the relevant regulations before opening our first group childcare center in 2005: Cookie's Daycare Center.
Cookie's Daycare Center was a trailblazer: the first STAR 4 high-quality program in the area and the first minority, women-owned Hispanic business. My family and I faced significant pushback from our largely white community due to our race and ethnicity. We were subjected to racial slurs towards my children, police being called on us to sit on our front porch, complaints about the volume of our music and strange comments about our food. This experience acted as a catalyst for advocacy work that is reflected in my daycare center’s mission: to be an inclusive, high quality childcare program where all families feel welcome and empowered to reach their full potential. With that vision in mind, my “Hustle Till You Drop” journey began!
Grant funding and expansion opportunities –
Thanks to grant funding opportunities and the need for childcare, I was able to open Children's Playhouse Early Learning Center in 2014. Seeing that South Philadelphia had the highest ACE Scores for Trauma in this time, we decided to make our biggest impact there by locating in the 19148 zip code. In 2017, our second grant enabled us to launch Children's Playhouse Newbold in 19145 zip code, as well as retire Cookie’s Daycare Center which served those on our wait list. We closed its doors in June of that year.
The issue of representation matters, but it was just me...
Having 20 years of experience in Childcare, I was invited to sit on boards, attend meetings and to speak with legislators and advocacy groups. Prior to COVID, I stayed quiet due to feeling out of place--not being represented for my ethnic background. Afterwards, the George Floyd incident encouraged more attention on Diversity and Inclusion as well as creating secure spaces for all people. This includes me and other Hispanic providers who have limited English-speaking skills, those involved in music or cooking at home that are often complained about by neighbors. Despite hearing many supports, policy changes and recommendations for the childcare community from these gatherings, I rarely observed any other Hispanic presence except myself. Consequently, this drove me to "Hustle Till You Drop" coupled with "Latinos Educando Juntos" so that our voices can be heard without barriers and we have access to resources. Because after all: Nothing About us Without Us!
Latinos Educando Juntos…
In 2021 LEJ, Latinos Educando Juntos, was formed with the support of First Up SEPEEC Advocacy committee (of which I was a part) and Dionne Wright Chambers from Learn Empower and Grow LEG. This group provided a safe space for Hispanic owned Childcare providers and other providers serving Hispanic populations to get together once a month and obtain resources, talk about their needs, and discover information that would help them sustain their businesses. We even supplied live translations for our guest speakers, resources, and regulations for those unable to access paper versions due to legality. Attendance began at under 10 providers per call but by the one-year anniversary we had collected over 150 providers on our newsletter list! During these early months our primary focus was to listen attentively and document what was being said to gain an understanding of exactly what the Hispanic providers needed to achieve better results. Realizing that grant funding would be essential in helping remove these barriers to success, I chose to take LEJ up another notch by converting it into a 501 C (3) Non-Profit organization in 2022. Visit us at: https://latinoseducandojuntos.org/
Our Board's Creation...
Assembling a board was no small feat. It took months of searching to find the ideal people for the job. My criteria were looking for those with an academic background and strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging which were essential for representing the mission of LEJ. On January 2023, seven extraordinary black and brown women leaders were finally announced as LEJ board members! Meet the group here: https://latinoseducandojuntos.org/our-board/
 
LEJ Vision…
LEJ, operating in the state of Pennsylvania and due to launch a website in 2022, provides a platform where providers can obtain resources in both English and Spanish. Therefore, we are strengthening it further by adding Professional Development Trainings, Leadership opportunities, Educational Advancement Opportunities and many more; all tailored to enhance business management skills such as budgeting and finance, provide career pathways for Spanish speakers, offer work force development ideas, advocacy programs , fellowships and access to regulation changes among other services. Our vision is to become the go-to place for small business owners and those that provide early childhood services to Black and Brown children; thus giving them the accessible resources they need in order to be successful.
We are a newly established non-profit dedicated to leveraging the available grants to provide resources and opportunities to those who had previously been deprived of them due to language barriers. We are determined in our devotion to creating an equitable setting for all, recognizing the crucial influence this will have on black and brown children's futures.
 
DAMARIS ALVARADO-
CEO, Children’s Playhouse Early Learning Center; CEO, Innovative Educational Consulting Services
A dedicated advocate for children, Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez launched the non-profit organization Latinos Educando Juntos (LEJ), to support small business owners, especially childcare providers, in the LatinX/Hispanic Community. She has been recognized as a leader in the field of early childhood education and in the world of business. In 2022, she was recognized with the Al Dia Women of Merit Award in the Entrepreneurial Category, shortly after being the cover story in Al Dia newspaper where she was called “The Queen of Children’s Playhouse.” The title resounded with her because she humbly credits the game of chess for her ability to strategize and plan ahead in all walks of life. Also, in 2022, Damaris was thrilled to receive the Bronze Medal for Pennsylvania’s Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion award.
 
 
 
 

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