Shifting the Narrative Around Childcare Providers

Childcare is not just a service—it’s the scaffolding that holds up families, communities, and economies. Yet across the country, and even here in Durham, the people we trust to nurture and teach our youngest children are being asked to do so on poverty wages.

Recent data shows that the average hourly wage for childcare providers in North Carolina hovers around $12–$14/hour—less than what it takes to meet even basic living expenses. A livable wage in Durham County is closer to $22/hour for a single adult with one child. That gap isn't just a number—it’s a deep wound that we, as a society, continue to ignore at our peril.

We know this injustice. It lives right under our noses, directly affecting our families, our friends, and our children. But the problem isn't ignorance. And it's not rooted in malice. It’s paralysis—because childcare is a complex, multi-layered beast. It’s intertwined with economic policy, gender equity, racial justice, and the daily logistics of working families.

But complexity has never stopped us before.

Here in Durham, we’ve seen what happens when communities come together. We’ve fought big battles. We’ve spoken hard truths. We’ve held space for each other’s pain and joy. We’ve embraced difference—not as a problem to solve, but as a gift to celebrate. We know that the beauty of a community lies in its patchwork of voices, identities, and lived experiences.

And we believe something different is possible.

When we invest in our children, we invest in our collective future. When we honor childcare providers as skilled professionals—worthy of fair compensation, respect, and joy in their work—we shift the rhythm of our community. We begin to move to a new beat. A beat that values care. That honors labor rooted in love. That uplifts the dignity of everyone who makes childhood safe, vibrant, and full of possibility.

It starts with speaking the truth. Then repeating it. Then moving with it—until we're dancing to a whole new song.

One in which:

• Caregivers earn livable wages and are no longer forced to choose between their calling and their survival.

• Families feel supported, not stretched thin.

• Children feel seen, safe, and celebrated by a community that knows their worth.

We are ready. And we are prepared to dance unapologetically to the beat of a new song.