Grew Our Network Exponentially
Doubled Our Facilitators + Added 100 Partners + 200 New Cities
Last year, the pandemic pushed us to innovate and adapt our Program Acquisition Institutes. Moving our facilitator certification training online meant that more participants could attend. Increasing accessibility created an explosive jump in participation. In just over a year, we have increased our facilitator network to 409 trainers. In 2021, we certified just as many facilitators online as we did in-person before the pandemic!
We are so thrilled to welcome 100 new implementing partners in 200 new cities across the U.S., totalling 510 communities where Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors classes are now offered.
Celebrated our Founder
Our beloved founder Sandra Gutierrez has transitioned out of her role as Executive Director, and we have been celebrating her legacy.
Sandra has worked tirelessly for over 47 years, beginning as a community organizer and legal advocate for farmworkers and refugees. Before founding Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors in 2007, she led campaigns promoting preschool education to the Latino community — always keeping parent voices at the center of her work.
Welcomed a New National Executive Director
We’re excited to have Adrián Pedroza at the helm to guide our work honoring and supporting parents and children!
Adrián is a proud father of three and a longtime advocate for Latino families. He has been a part of the AP/OD leadership team for the past three years. He started his advocacy work over 20 years ago as an AmeriCorps member with the NM Young Fathers Project. He served as Executive Director of the Partnership for Community Action for 10 years and was also appointed by President Obama in 2011 as a Commissioner to the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
Partnered with Sesame Workshop
Our new partnership with Sesame Workshop is a truly exciting opportunity to expand AP/OD’s reach across the U.S. This year, we partnered and co-created with Sesame Workshop on their “ABC’s of Racial Literacy.” The initiative includes videos and learning materials to help families talk constructively about race, gender, and diversity. Find the resources at SesameWorkshop.org/ComingTogether.
And look out for how our partnership will continue to evolve in the new year!
Launched Our YouTube Channel
Influenced National Policy
AP/OD supported the America Forward Coalition by coordinating meetings with members of Congress to strategize bold funding to support our nation’s early childhood centers, K-12 public schools, higher education, national service, unemployment, and underemployed workers. The America Forward’s Virtual Appropriations Hill Week included 100 coalition partners.
This year’s edition was one of the most successful Hill Week’s to date. Collectively, participating Coalition members...
- Engaged in 100+ hours of virtual training and capacity building, learning and practicing effective advocacy approaches
- Held meetings with 25+ Congressional offices to advocate for critical funding priorities in the Federal FY22 budget
- Generated 50,000+ impressions on social media by highlighting their participation with #AmericaForwardHillWeek
What's Next in 2022?
We couldn’t have accomplished so much without the incredible support of our partner organizations and funders. We are so grateful to work with such a talented and dedicated network.
While this year was incredibly successful for our organization, we have even bigger plans for 2022 and beyond. Stay tuned as we’ll be announcing our bold new Strategic Plan for the next 10 years soon.
