On Thursday, September 12, Starting Point hosted the 2024 Billie Osborne-Fears Community Forum, bringing together business, community, and government leaders to discuss the pressing challenges and opportunities in child care. The event offered a platform for collaborative dialogue and highlighted solutions to improve access to quality child care across Northeast Ohio.
A Fireside Chat Focused on Action: Nicole Leads the Conversation
The forum’s centerpiece was a thought-provoking fireside chat led by Nicole Riehl, President and CEO of EPIC, who offered invaluable insights into the child care industry and its ties to economic development. Patrick Pastore, Regional President of PNC Bank, played the role of a skilled moderator, guiding the conversation with thoughtful, well-timed questions, allowing Nicole to delve into the pressing issues and share solutions that could benefit the community.
Nicole began by addressing the fundamental challenges within the child care system, emphasizing its ripple effect on the workforce. She pointed out that child care isn’t just a family issue—it’s a business issue. “When parents can’t find quality care, they either drop out of the workforce or their productivity suffers. This doesn’t just impact families; it impacts businesses and our economy,” she explained.
As the conversation progressed, Nicole shared data-driven insights, focusing on how child care problems directly affect workforce stability and community growth. She emphasized businesses’ role in supporting working parents: “We work side by side with employers to help them implement solutions that support their workforce and local communities. Child care needs to be part of every employer’s strategic planning.”
Nicole also highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships, stressing the need for businesses to join forces with local governments and organizations like Starting Point. “No single entity can solve the child care crisis alone. We need collaboration across sectors to create sustainable solutions,” she stated.
She wrapped up her discussion with a call to action for employers: “Every CEO I speak with talks about the workforce pipeline—and child care is the backbone of that pipeline. It’s time for businesses to recognize this and take action.”
Celebrating Leadership: Robin Martin Receives the Founder's Award
One of the standout moments of the day was when Robin Martin was honored with the first-ever Billie Osborne-Fears Founder’s Award. Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne presented the award, recognizing Robin for her 17 years of impactful work as Director of the Cuyahoga County Family and Children First Council. Robin’s dedication to youth and family services, particularly her work in supporting multi-system children, has made a significant impact on countless lives.
Robin reflected on the importance of early childhood programs in her acceptance speech, sharing, “I am a product of early childhood programs, and it’s my honor to continue this work. Early childhood matters—because it changes lives.” Her words were a reminder of the long-term effects of quality child care.
A Path Forward for Child Care Solutions
The 2024 Billie Osborne-Fears Community Forum was more than just a discussion—it was a call to action. Nicole’s insights underscored the urgency of tackling the child care crisis through collaboration, innovation, and investment. As she pointed out, “When child care doesn’t work, neither does our economy.”
As the forum concluded, the message was clear: Child care is at the heart of building a thriving workforce, and the time for action is now. Nancy Mendez, President and CEO of Starting Point, ended the meeting with this final remark, “Make no mistake. Quality child care is essential to a healthy, growing economy. But it is also essential to a healthy, growing child.
We know this, so we must raise our voices and demand that every child has access to quality child care. At the heart of this issue–what drives Starting Point’s work and so many of our partners–are the children of Northeast Ohio. When we agree that children deserve the best and work to make it happen, we become the best. The best community to raise a family in. To work in, to live in, to thrive in for every child in every neighborhood. But we can’t delay any longer. The child care problem must be addressed. The time is now.“
