Parent & Provider Fellowship

Samantha Shepherd

Samantha Shepherd is native of Savannah, Georgia, and a mom of two. She has been a child care educator for more than 20 years. As an educator, she is an advocate for child care educators and the families she works with. She also has expertise in working with at-risk youth, children with neurodevelopment disorders or ASD, Neurobiology or Specific Learning Disorders, and ADHD, among others. Child care is a passion for Samantha, and she is committed to being a voice and advocate for child care educators and the families she works with. In addition to her work for and with families, Samantha is a small business owner of Unapologetically Fresh, an organic skincare line, which is about self-care and self-love. In the future, she hopes to be able to continue pouring into her community and open a community center.

Olga Grays

With more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Olga Grays is the proud owner of Mrs Olga’s Daycare in Las Cruces, New Mecixo. Ms. Olga is passionate about creating nurturing, inclusive, and engaging learning environments for young children and their families. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and proudly serves as a State Representative for the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), advocating for high-quality family child care across New Mexico.

Ms. Olga is also a co-author of articles on culturally sustaining pedagogy for children ages birth to three years of age, reflecting her commitment to honoring and celebrating the diverse backgrounds of all children and families.

A proud mother of five and grandmother to a beautiful grandson, Ms. Olga brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work with children. She is also an active member of OLE (Organizers in the Land of Enchantment), continuing her dedication to advocacy and community engagement.

Charlotte Jacobs

Charlotte Jacobs is a public education and child care community organizer with Maine People’s Alliance and a former Program Director at Seedlings to Sunflowers Nonprofit Childcare & Family Center in Gorham, Maine. With nearly 15 years of experience in early childhood education, she worked her way from assistant teacher to program leadership, overseeing staff, family engagement, and early learning programs. Her journey into the field began in part from her own need for affordable child care, giving her firsthand experience with the challenges facing working families. Today, Charlotte organizes parents, educators, and child care providers across Maine to build support for stronger child care and public education systems. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education from Southern Maine Community College.

Ingrid Castellón

Disposicion constante, atención empatica luchando por un trato justo y digno… vivir para servir es el amor más grande para nuestro prójimo.

Donna Carpenter

Donna Carpenter is a lifelong resident of the Englewood community on Chicago’s South Side and has been a dedicated leader with COFI since attending her first training in 2006. Since joining the organization, she has been actively involved in both the Stepping Out of Poverty Campaign, particularly the Utilities Affordability sub-campaign, and the Early Learning Campaign. She currently serves as the Early Learning Campaign Co-Chair for POWER-PAC IL, helping to lead advocacy efforts that support young children and families across Illinois. A proud mother of six adult children and grandmother of six, Donna continues to use her voice, leadership, and lived experience to advocate for policies that strengthen families, expand economic opportunities, and improve outcomes for children and communities across Chicago and Illinois.

Tianna Johnson
Bio to come!

Victoria Mendoza
Bio to come!