10.17.2025 - People Inc Early Education Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Good morning. My name is Meg Sturk. I'm the president and CEO here at People Incorporated. And I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome you to the grand opening and ribbon cutting of our new early education center. A place that will serve 212 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and their families. What a milestone this is. Uh many of you were here a year ago. Uh and I can't believe a year later we are already back

celebrating. Uh so this is not just for people incorporated, but this is for the children, the families, and the community of Fall River. Today, we are not just cutting a ribbon. We are opening our doors. We're opening our doors to opportunity, to growth, and to the future of early childhood education in our city. This beautiful new center stands as a testament to what we can achieve when we work together with one

vision to give every child the strongest possible start. Before we get going, I'd like to recognize the incredible leaders and partners here who helped make this dream a reality.

We are honored to have with us Congressman Jake Oenclaus, Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robert Goldstein, Department of Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.

Very welld deserved. All of them. Uh, State Representative Carol Fiola.

I also want to recognize staff here today from United States Senator Edward Marky's office staff from the office of Senator Michael Rodri and staff from Representatives Alan Sylvia and Steven Ulette's offices.

We thank you all and so many local dignitaries and community partners who are here today for your support, your commitment to the children's future.

When we broke ground on this project last August, we dreamed of a space that would be inspire learning, spark curiosity, and support families. And today, that dream is real. This new early education center, as I said, provides care and education for 212 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It offers new jobs for dedicated educators and it strengthens the partnership across Fall River. For parents, this is

a place where children will learn, they will grow and they will feel safe. For our teachers and staff, this center reflects their dedication and p passion and for nurturing young minds. And for Fall River, this marks a step forward in expanding access to quality education and investment that will echo for generations to come.

This day could not have happened without so many people whose vision and persistence brought us here. To my team of Liz Mashado, Kelly Mian, Ken Andred, and Michelle Lima whose dedication, teamwork, and countless hours made this project possible to to our management team and entire staff who keep our agency running around the clock. to our board of directors and capital campaign steering committee.

Your leadership and trust in this project made it all so possible. And a heartful thank you to our donors and community partners in including the banks and organizations who believed in this vision and stepped up with generosity and conviction. This center be exists because of all of you.

Almost 60 years of people incorporated work has led to this moment. Our mission is to strengthen our community for each of its members. And there is no better reflection of that mission than standing here today surrounded by partners, families, and friends celebrating what we've built together. We now have our guests to introduce. So, first I'd like to call up State Representative Carol

Fiola who represents this district with the center proudly stands.

Congratulations.

Wow. What a great day to see everyone here. And just seemed like yesterday we were at the um the groundbreaking. And uh when you say it takes a village, this project is to raise a family to raise children. This project clearly exemplifies that with all of the partners that uh participated. Uh great to see our congressman here, of course, our mayor, my colleagues. I know some of them couldn't be here. I know the

senator was caught on a flight delay um and as well as the other senator Marky is there voting trying to get us back in uh in business there uh with the federal government. So great to see you all. My colleague Justin Thurber is here and um a special shout out to former state representative Pat Hadad who has been a champion for early education her entire career. So thank you Pat.

Thank you. Thank you. Um we were given three minutes so this is the first time I wrote a little speech. U uh good morning of course happy to be here. Um with the opening of the center people incorporated continues their legacy of serving the Fall River community with distinction and providing essential services to our families that need it so badly. The center will go on to serve as

as Meg said over 200 children and help meet the high demand we see for early education services in this area. This marks a transformative investment in early education, demonstrating the city and states, ex exemplified by our state um representatives here today um commitment to providing support to children and families. We all know how critical early education is to children in their academic journey, but also to

families who need the additional support and for especially women who are in the workforce and and need uh all of these services. The Commonwealth continues to make investments in early education. In the FY26 budget, we appropriated 360 million for the Commonwealth CARES, the C3 grants, with 115 million in the early education care operational grant fund for a total of $475 million. And despite

the loss of some federal funds after COVID, the Commonwealth has maintained this vital early education program, which lowered costs for families and increased opportunities for teachers in this field. We make these investments because we know that a child's early education can be critical in setting them up for future success. It leads to higher literacy rates, higher graduation

rates, and higher life success. It means that many children will have access to early intervention services that they may not have otherwise had. These services are critical in providing children the learning tools they need to thrive later on in life. And because of this center and the work of People, Inc., more children will have access to these interventions. In addition to these investments, of course, we were

able as a delegation to provide extra funding to make fill some gaps as many of you did as well. However, we are only a piece of this partnership that made this possible. A huge thank you and shout out to the visionary president and CEO Megan Sturk for making this uh leading this brigade.

Without your without you, this state-of-the-art facility would not have come to fruition and come off the drawing board. Megan, to you, to Jason who chairs the board of directors, to the capital campaign committee, to all of you involved, uh to Bay Coast Bank, I know was a tremendous, and you'll hear from others who were involved as well.

Uh we are grateful and our children, thank you. They don't know it yet, but they're going to thank you later on. And uh we're very appreciative to all of you. And I was asked today um very important uh resolutions don't come around often. uh we are presenting uh it's different than a citation. I just want you to know it takes a whole lot more work and uh uh Jay and uh Tom know

uh I'm going to read it. I've been asked to read it and it's congrat I think my glasses are strong enough.

Congratulations people incorporated on the grand opening of your new early education center and whereas people incorporated in the city of Fall River will celebrate the grand opening um of your early ed center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 17th. And whereas People Incorporated, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit organization that works to provide quality and diverse services for children in the Fall River

area, providing essential services that uplift families and promote equity. And whereas the opening of the new People Incorporated early education center at 145 Weaver Street marks a transformative investment in early childhood development in the area, expanding access to highquality exclusive uh inclusive education for over 200 children. And whereas the cent's state-of-the-art facility reflects a

decade of vision, collaboration, and commitment supported by public and private partners, all led by president and chief executive officer Megan Sturk.

And whereas the center will foster lifelong learning, strengthen family engagement, and create new opportunities for educators and community partnerships. Therefore, be it resolved that the Massachusetts General Court hereby congratulate the people incorporated on the grand opening of its new early education center and present this copy as a token of appreciation and recognition for your continued service

to the Commonwealth and commend its leadership, staff, and supporters for their dedication to building a brighter future for Fall River's children. And be it further resolved that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the clerk of the House of Representatives to People Incorporated and signed by our speaker Ronald Mariano. Uh, our clerk Timothy Carol, our Senate President Karen

Spilka, um, clerk of the Senate, uh, Clerk Hornsby, Representative Fiola, Senator Rodri, Representative Alice Hanland P, a leader and staunch champion for education, representative Alan Sylvia, Representative Steven Wlette, and Representative Justin Thurber.

Congratulations.

Next up, I'd have Fall River Mayor Paul Kugan please come up.

No, I know I'm not. I'm not.

Well, how great is this?

It's so nice to see everybody here today. Uh, and I'm happy to be part of the introduction of the People Incorporated Early Education Center to the city of Fall River. This building will welcome educators and children from across the city with a capacity of over 200 young minds with services being offered every day from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The center is going to open up new possibilities

for working families in Fall River. And the right to education is something that you would never never deny anyone. It brings opportunity for growth, joy, and play. As most of you know, before I was mayor, I worked in the forum public schools and I actually worked at people incorporated for a little while for many years. During this time, the vitality of education in each and every one of our

lives was cemented within me. Each day across the city, Fall River educators um are shaping our children's futures.

For those of you who spent time in education, we aware of the everinccreasing importance of safe and positive learning environments.

Massachusetts has a history of recognizing the value of education and our state is providing yet again that we are committed to providing meaningful education opportunities and experiences for residents, especially here in Fall River with this new people incorporated facility.

One of my great pleasures while working at Dery High School was seeing students grow throughout their careers. They gained confidence and I watched as they would strive to achieve their new goals.

A good education system shapes our future for our children, our families, and this is something Fall River richly deserves. This center is going to be a crucial stepping stone for the children of our city. When students enter their schools, they should feel welcomed and excited like they will here. This is exactly what this new center will aim to do. My greatest hope is that with this

building, we will open up worlds of possibilities for children that will allow them to achieve great things. I want to thank Meg, her entire crew at People, Inc., all the people that donated to this process, and the children and the families that will be welcomed here will be treated to something extremely extremely special.

And I again appreciate everybody here today from our elected officials to our state officials to make this partnership work and to be extremely successful.

Thank you all very very much.

Next up from the Department of Early Education and Care, Commissioner Amy Kershaw.

Thank you, Megan, and to your team and your leadership. Congratulations. What an amazing day. Um, I can't believe it was a year and a half ago. We were here with shovels in the dirt. And to come and see what has happened is quite extraordinary. I did get a a tiny peek inside. Um, and I have to say that um, I just so grateful for the partnership with our legislative colleagues, with

our state government colleagues, and I just want to recognize the leadership of Pat Hadad, longstanding partnership with you, um, advocating for early education, and the investments and the attention and the benefits to kids and families that we're seeing today have so much to do with the leadership that you uh, relentlessly advocated for over the years. So, thank you.

Uh we are so happy at the Department of Early Education and Care to have resources and capital investments and supported by the Hilly Driscoll administration, our legislative colleagues to invest in spaces like this. When you see spaces that are designed specifically around the children and families and the educators, it is a completely different feel. And I think it represents for us the values of

how we want our educators and how we want our our families to experience um early education and care. And when you walk into that room um and you walk into the playground, you can see spaces that are designed directly around the experience of children. Um spaces facilitate learning and growth and curiosity. And you can see in the spaces that you've designed here that we are sending the values we want for our

children. The other thing this this building represents is really the dual purpose that we see in early education and care. So physical beautiful spaces that will in support the education and learning um preparing children for school and the lifelong success but also supporting the economic mobility of their families to go to work, stay at work and be able to pursue their own goals. Um the capital investment

strategies are really part of the this administration's overall goals of tackling affordability and access to early education and care. So along with investing in new spaces and creating new opportunities for educators and families within communities, we see child care as a key part of economic development for the communities and you're doing that here in Fall River. So we are so

excited. I want to just recognize Jose Mendes who runs the capital programs for the Department of Early Education and Care. And I know you're going to hear from Teresa Jordan from the Children's Investment Fund who are our long-standing partners in in building these spaces. Um, but this building and today also represents how we are going to bring transformation to early education and care across the

Commonwealth and really deliver on what families and children and community and our economy needs, which is partnerships between state, federal, local, community- based programs, uh, philanthropy, business community, and bringing them all together in partnership to deliver what kids and families need. um is on full display here today and we're just grateful to be part of it and thank you and congratulations again.

Next up from the Department of Public Health, Commissioner Robbie Goldstein.

I did not get the memo about the wool coat. It was a good memo there.

Yeah. Good morning everyone. It is such a joy to be here with you to celebrate this beautiful new center of opportunity that will nurture, teach, and inspire our youngest community members. Today, as we mark the opening of a building, we also mark an exciting beginning. A beginning for children who will take vital steps here as they learn and grow and develop. A beginning for families

who will find partnership and support.

and the beginning for a vibrant and supportive community that continues to invest in its future. After all, future is really what a ribbon cutting ceremony is all about. It's the opening of possibilities. And there are very few possibilities more powerful than those we create when we invest in children and when we give them the best possible start and strong foundation for a healthy and productive life.

It's also great to be back at the place where many of us stood last August turning those first shovels of dirt and imagining what could be. To see that vision come to fruition. To see this extraordinary space ready to welcome children is incredibly gratifying and inspiring.

The first few years of life are a period of extraordinary growth physically, cognitively, and emotionally. The brain is developing at a pace it will never match again. And with the right supports, children have an opportunity to build a strong foundation for learning, health, confidence that lasts a lifetime. That's what this early education center represents. It's an opportunity at the very start. And every

child who walks through the doors will be seen, nurtured, and celebrated. and every dedicated teacher and staff member here will build the skills and the resilience that children need not just to survive but to thrive.

For decades, People, Inc. has been a cornerstone of compassion here in Fall River, providing care and inclusion and hope for people of all abilities. And this center is an extension of that mission. It's giving young learners the opportunity to explore and to play and to connect and most importantly to dream. What happens here shapes everything that will follow. Safe, nurturing, highquality early education,

prepares children for school, and it does so much more. It strengthens families, it builds community, it improves lifelong health. It's prevention at its purest form and it is equity in action. So, I want to salute everyone who made this moment possible.

The educators, the therapists, builders, the planners, the families, community partners who all poured their hearts into this project. And I especially want to recognize Meg Sturk, whose vision and leadership brought this dream from blueprint to reality. Meg, you and your team have built something extraordinary, something that reflects your commitment to excellence and your belief in the

power of possibility. So today, all of us here applaud you for creating a welcoming, safe, and nurturing place, a fun place that is dedicated to providing the kind of start every child deserves.

The groundbreaking last August, Senator Marky put the value of early education into perspective when he said, I'll quote, "Children may be only a quarter of our population, but they are 100% of our future." And we at the Department of Public Health are proud to stand with People, Inc. in building that future right here. A future that's rooted in health, equity, and hope. So, congratulations. Thank you for giving

Massachusetts youngest residents the most powerful gift imaginable, which is a chance to begin their life surrounded by love, care, and dignity. And I will say on behalf of the governor and the lieutenant governor in collaboration with Commissioner Kershaw, we we too have a citation for you from the governor. I won't read it. I'll let you read it later, but um there's a great recognition for all of the work that you

have done. Thank you.

from Children's Investment Fund. I'd like to call up the director of the program, Teresa Jordan.

Good morning everyone. So, thank you to the People Inc. team for hosting um today's event and inviting us to celebrate along with you. Um, I want to extend my congratulations to Meg and her incredible team, her incredible staff and development team um that created this amazing center. I would also like to mention that our affiliate SEAK has a long history of supporting your projects

um as a developer of community-based and inclusive housing for people with disabilities. So, we know that your roots of service are deep within the South Coast and Fall River area. Um we work alongside the commissioner um uh of early education and care um and Sedak on this program. So we've been administering this program for the last 11 years um co-administering. Um so the EEOST program is the grant program that

supported um this project and EEOST is the early education and out of schooltime capital fund and it provides funding to early education and out of schooltime organizations that are planning to do improvements or newly create child care spaces. So, we'd like to thank the department, specifically Commissioner Kershaw and Jose Mendes for their partnership in this program. And I'd also like to give a shout out to

Justennia Gil, who is the senior project manager at um the Children's Investment Fund for her work. And I don't see Justennia here, but oh, there she is in the back. Um for her work with Meg and her team. Um so, People Inc. received a million-doll grant from the EEOS program and we are thrilled that this program has been in existence since 2013.

We were there at the beginning when the program was first included as a provision in the state's 2013 housing bond bill and that is thanks to numerous housing and early education advocates and legislators, all the folks that are here today. The program was reauthorized in 2024 for an additional $50 million for five years. So, we're very excited about that and we really thank all the

legislators and representatives um that supported that legislation.

So, the one thing that we know is that facilities matter and they matter because they provide safe and enriching spaces for children who spend most of their days in these spaces.

Outdoor play spaces matter because children need to be physically active, breathe fresh air, and see the natural world around them. And I had the opportunity with Kelly Mian and the architects um to take a walk through the outdoor play space um which is simply amazing. There's a greenhouse and art easels and um garden beds and it really gave me this idea that I need a she shed in my backyard. So, I'm going to get the

name of that uh person that provided that, but I understand it came in a thousand pieces. So, I'll need to hire your people as well to put it together.

Um, but this center is vital to this community and our youngest learners deserve the very best. So, we are proud to partner with you and congratulations again. Thank you.

Senator Marky was not able to be here, but please welcome from his office, Mark Lanigan.

Hi everyone, my name is Mark Lanigan. Uh I'm regional director for Senator Ed Marky in this region of the state and the senator wanted to be here buck got hot in DC uh with the ongoing government shutdown. Um but he sends a statement and he sends his best on behalf of the ribbon cutting today. So, uh, the statement reads, "Thank you to Meg, the entire People Incorporated team, Congressman Aenclaus, uh, Senator

Rodriggs, Representatives Fiola, Thurber, Sylvia Ullette, uh, the governor and her team and the commissioners, uh, Pat, and everyone who made today possible. I was honored to join you last August for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Early Education Center, and I wish I could be with you for this momentous day as well. What lies behind this tent is more than a building. Behind this tent

is a path to opportunity. Behind this tent is the key to brighter futures. And behind this tent is the power of possibility. When I was here for the groundbreaking for this remarkable facility last year, I said, and this might be déja vu because the commissioner also said this line, uh, people incorporated recognizes that care for community is an intergenerational project. Children may only be 25% of our

population, but they are 100% of our future. So we must ensure that we have uh provide 100% of the resources that they need to grow, succeed and thrive.

Align so nice we said it twice. That is the commitment that people incorporated made then and it's the commitment that you are making good on now. Over the past year, the persistence and dedication of the whole team has been nothing short of inspiring. Together we are fighting for the $2 million in the budget that Senator Warren, Congressman Okenclaus and I appropriated for people

incorporated in the children you serve.

That fight continues and I will continue to fight to ensure this funding remains in the Senate's annual budget bill as People Incorporated so richly deserves.

Our children's future must not be collateral damage in President Trump's reckless agenda of cruel and callous cuts. Because it takes a village to raise a child. It takes partners at the federal, state, and local levels. And it takes a dedicated team like People Incorporated to stick with it, to build it, and in so doing to build a brighter future for the children of Fall River in the south coast. Thank you all and

congratulations again on the ribbon cutting for People Incorporated.

Congressman Jake Oenclaus is serving his third term representing the Massachusetts 4th. In addition to his work on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, his areas of focus include healthcare, clean energy, gun violence, and building a strong middle class. Jake was born and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, the son of a surgeon and a scientist. They showed him the value of curiosity and hard work. From the

moment he could read, Jake loved American history. After graduating from Harvard College, Jake joined the Marines. He commanded infantry in Afghanistan and special ops in Panama.

Upon returning home, Jake continued his service as a three-term city council in Newton. While working at city hall on nights and weekends, Jake built a career in business running a product development at both a Fortune 100 insurance company and a cyber security startup. He has degrees in economics and finance from Harvard University and MIT Sloan. Today, Jake lives in Newton with

his wife Michelle, their children Teddy, Grace, and Audrey, and especially their Labrador Retriever Donut. I am honored to introduce Congressman Aenclaus to the podium.

Good morning. After that very nice introduction, I don't bring a cool resolution from Congress because we're shut down. So, um, but it is such a a pleasure to be here with so many people who have come together as a community to invest in our children. Of course, Megan, for your inspired leadership. Um, and I want to particularly note uh my friend Pat Hadad as the chair of this initiative. Pat,

you've devoted your whole career to children. Um, and and also you every time I'm doing something in in southeastern Massachusetts, particularly for children, uh, you know, it's Bay Co's Bank and it's Nick. Nick, would you just stand up and be recognized? I know that you never want to be, but over and over again, Nick is stepping up for the community. Um, you know, this this is the whole ball

game, investing investing in children.

There's so many hard things we do in government, right? What's the what's the right tax code to to how do you secure the border, but also welcome legal immigration? How do you transition to clean? There's so many hard things where we've got to balance the equities. This is not one of them. Just do more of this, more of this. We know I know as a parent of three young children, five,

four, and two years old. I'm the youngest dad in Congress. I know, as Megan said, as the as the son of scientists and neuroscientists, these first eight years, it's it's everything.

Um, the amount of cognitive, emotional development that happens when we invest in our in our children, uh, we're creating a better future. Uh, and yet it's it's too hard. It's too hard to get this done. And it's more to the credit of of Megan and the team around her that you have been able uh, to get it done.

It's more critical now maybe than ever before as child care costs continue to outpace wages for so many families and as we continue to grapple with the long academic and socio emotional hangover from the pandemic and the school closures. We know our children in this country um and their teachers are still struggling after those school closures and we need to make investments like this to catch up not just in early

education but also in one-on-one tutoring for our children. And I want to compliment Mayor Kugan and so many others in Fall River because you are also leading the charge on that on making sure that first graders and second graders are getting high dosage tutoring for for literacy. Um and I'm here to be a partner in this. We should be funding and investing in education, not just local and state, but federal um

at a much higher rate than we are. Uh, and without getting too deep into the policy and politics of it, you know who should be paying for this really? It's the social media corporations who have been treating our children like products for the last 15 years. Right? Megan right now is struggling to try to figure out how she's going to pay living wages to a bunch of people who want to devote their

lives to nurturing children. Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg has a $250 billion personal fortune and has internal documentation at Facebook saying that AI chat bots can have quote sensual conversations with 12-year-olds.

Something's wrong here with this split screen. We should be investing in highpaying wages for our teachers to have real conversations with children as opposed to the AI chat bots being funded by these tech titans. We have to have a tax code and an appropriations policy that matches the values of this country.

Um, and right now I think it's gotten skewed. So, uh, we're committed to getting the government open and then we're committing to making the government work for our young people because I'm going to say a third time in case it didn't land. Children may be only 25% of the population, they're 100% of the future.

Thank you everyone. Let this ribbon cutting be more than a celebration. It's a promise. It's a promise that People Incorporated will continue to build, support, and empower our community, one child and one family at a time. Thank you all for being part of this historic day. I hope you please stay and enjoy light refreshments inside as we celebrate this new beginning together.

All right. Are we ready?

All right. One, two, three.

Well, I welcome you guys all into the building. Go left, go right, go wherever you want, please. There's refreshments.

Someone will direct it.