One Somerville, Every Child: ‘Week of the Young Child’ April 5, 2024 through April 11, 2025

 Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Superintendent Rubėn Carmona, and Somerville’s early childhood community invite Somerville caregivers, children, and educators to celebrate the Week of the Young Child from April 5 to 11, 2025.

The Week of the Young Child was designated by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families. 

This week of celebrations will include programming and activities across the city, family-friendly specials in local restaurants, and will culminate in a community-wide celebration on Thursday, April 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the Somerville High School concourse (81 Highland Avenue). The event will include family-friendly music, food, and activities.

“In Somerville, we believe every child deserves the strongest possible start, which only happens when an entire community works together,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “Week of the Young Child is a joyful reminder of what we can accomplish when families, educators, and city and community partners come together to support our youngest residents.”

The city’s collective approach to meeting the needs of young children has been supported by the First Five Steering Committee. This committee is composed of representatives from the City of Somerville, the Somerville Public Schools, and community partners.

“Week of the Young Child is a great way to celebrate the long history of early childhood work in Somerville,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Rubén Carmona. “In Somerville Public Schools, we’re committed to making sure our youngest learners have access to high quality learning opportunities and to providing inclusive, multilingual programming and wrap-around services for families and we are grateful for strong partnerships between the Public Schools, the city, and multiple community partners.”

City of Somerville Youth and Family Supports

The One Somerville, Every Child umbrella tagline reflects Somerville’s commitment to equity and its collective approach to supporting all children and youth in our city.

Among the successes of the multilingual cross-sector work to support early childhood development from prenatal to school entry are: SomerBaby; Home Visiting; Playgroups; Developmental Screening; the Child Care Access and Affordability Program; Somerville Hub Connect; wraparound services; and the establishment of the Somerville Partnership for Young Children focused on expanding access to high-quality preschool in the city.

Our newest addition to support this goal is the establishment of a multi-tiered system of supports to ensure all partners in our mixed delivery system have the supports needed to ensure all young learners can thrive. The First Five Steering Committee facilitates the alignment of all these services.

For more information regarding any of the above programs or initiatives listed please visit the Somerville Hub Connect.