The Final Push: 1,000 Calls for Universal Child Care
The state budget deadline is April 1, and decisions about universal child care are being made right now.
Governor Hochul, legislative leadership, and our representatives are negotiating the final budget — and they need to hear directly from the parents, providers, and New Yorkers counting on them to make sure their campaign promises for universal state-wide Pre-K, 2-K in NYC and more are in the budget. We also need them to deliver on state-wide 3-K and progressive revenue so we can get to truly universal child care in the next five years.
Join us for a lunch hour Zoom action where we’ll call the Governor, state leadership, and our legislators together.
During the call we will:
Call decision-makers and urge them to include universal child care wins in the final budget
Share what we’re hearing from legislators and their offices
Ask questions and strategize together about the final stretch
Reach out to our networks using a simple text script to bring even more people into the effort
Our goal is 1,000 calls to Albany before the budget is finalized. When legislators hear from hundreds of their own constituents in a short window, it makes a real difference.
Take your lunch break with us and help bring universal child care wins home.
Together we can make sure the people making the decisions hear loud and clear from the families who need child care now.
Workshop: Building Power Through Storytelling
Parent and would-be parent organizing has lead to historic commitments from Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani to bring 2-K to NYC. But it’s up to us to make sure 2-K and universal child care are still the priority for our elected leaders.
One important way to do that is to share our experiences how the high cost of child care has impacted our families and communities in the press, at hearings, on social media and to one another.
Don’t know where to start? No problem! On Saturday March 21st at the Flatbush YMCA, join us for a workshop where we’ll:
-Learn how to tell your story in a way that will get your elected officials to listen to you
AND
-Plan how to leverage our stories to get 2-K to the finish line
*FREE child care is provided as always, but you must RSVP to reserve your spot.
RSVP below:
Movement Building 101
2-K is coming to Northern Manhattan and the Bronx in the Fall.
Parents and would-be parents fought for this so let’s celebrate this win with pizza, and learn how we can keep building this movement with friends, family, and neighbors until we win truly universal child care for all kids 0-5.
Join us for a workshop where we’ll:
Learn how to build up our movement because there’s power in numbers
Connect with neighbors and grow our base of support in your neighborhood
*Pizza and FREE child care is provided as always, but you must RSVP to reserve spot.
RSVP below:
Spring Membership Drive Planning Call
Help us build our first Spring Membership Drive!
New Yorkers United for Child Care is an organization created by and for parents - but we can’t do it alone. Our long-term goal is to be majority-funded by our members - so we can rely less on major donors and fickle funding cycles.
Please join us on Monday, March 23rd at 7pm for a brainstorming and strategy session to share your ideas and help us build a winning Membership Drive.
Albany Lobby Day for Universal Child Care
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
Governor Hochul has committed to a pathway toward universal child care. That’s a big deal - and it’s because parents got organized and made their voices heard.
But promises don’t win themselves - we have a budget process to get through and more to win.
That’s why parents, would-be parents, grandparents, workers, and caregivers from across New York are heading to Albany for a grassroots lobby day to make sure we win universal child care - and win it right.
When lawmakers hear directly from families, they act. Your story, your presence, and your kids belong in the halls of power.
Scroll down for more information after you RSVP.
*Please make sure to RSVP for ALL people in your party so that we can plan bus seats and food accordingly.
What to Expect
We’ll meet with legislators, share our stories, and show - in numbers - what families are demanding.
We’ll provide support, travel, talking points, and coordination - you don’t need lobbying experience to participate.
✅ Details for travel, scheduling, and coordination are coming soon. We’ll work together to make it as accessible as possible.
✨ Kids are welcome - and encouraged. This fight is about them, and they deserve to be seen.
If you’ve ever struggled to find or afford child care, worried about what comes next for your family, or believed New York can do better - this day is for you.
Together, We’re Fighting For:
Full funding for 2-Care, so care for 2-year-olds is truly free and universal
A statewide 3-K and Pre-K guarantee, with every county required to participate
Progressive, sustainable, and dedicated revenue to get to 0-5, statewide and fund universal child care for the long term - not just one budget cycle
Join us in Albany. Let’s turn commitments into guarantees.
Zoom Training: Lobby Day Prep
We’re so excited for our Albany Lobby Day on Wednesday February 25th to let Governor Hochul know that we want universal child care in NY!
To make sure that you feel comfortable and confident going into Lobby Day, join us on Zoom where we’ll hold a quick lobby training, review the schedule for the day, and answer any questions you have. Zoom link sent upon RSVP.
RSVP below:
Central Brooklyn Advocacy Workshop: How to Lobby 101
NEW DATE: Saturday February 7th 3:00-5:00PM
Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul have committed to funding 2-Care in NYC. Now, we need to make sure it gets across the finish line!
Join us for a workshop where you'll learn how to lobby your elected officials effectively to win 2-Care in NYC - and help shape our 2-Care strategy together.
You’ll learn how to make your voice heard as a constituent and connect with fellow parents and would-be parents.
FREE child care provided but must RSVP below:
Northern Manhattan Advocacy Workshop: How to Lobby 101
Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul have committed to funding 2-Care in NYC. Now, we need to make sure it gets across the finish line!
Join us for a workshop where you'll learn how to lobby your elected officials effectively to win 2-Care in NYC - and help shape our 2-Care strategy together.
You’ll learn how to make your voice heard as a constituent and connect with fellow parents and would-be parents.
FREE child care provided but must RSVP below:
Zoom Advocacy Workshop: How to Lobby 101
Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul have committed to funding 2-Care in NYC. Now, we need to make sure it gets across the finish line!
Join us for a Zoom workshop where you'll learn how to lobby your elected officials effectively to win 2-Care in NYC - and help shape our 2-Care strategy together.
You’ll learn how to make your voice heard as a constituent and connect with fellow parents and would-be parents.
RSVP below:
Universal Child Care Day of Action
Give Advice to Mayor Mamdani + Canvass for 2-Care!
We’re welcoming a New Year and a New Mayor with advice for universal child care from parents all across the city (you write it, we’ll deliver to City Hall for you) AND a canvass for 2-Care.
This will be a great opportunity to tell Mayor Mamdani what New Yorkers want to see happen for NYC universal child care, help us gather 2-Care petition signatures, and to connect with fellow NYUC members in your neighborhood!
We’ll have advice booths set up in Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens. After you RSVP, your neighborhood leader will be in touch with everything you need for a great day of action.
Find booth times and locations in your borough and RSVP below:
Basics of Powermapping Workshop
Carlyn Cowen, the Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer at Chinese-American Planning Council will be leading our powermapping workshop!
Carlyn will lead our training about who holds power in NYC government. Then together we’ll make plans for how to partner with those key people to win 2-Care for all 60,000 NYC 2 year olds.
This will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow parents and would-be parents, better understand the workings of NYC government, and how to leverage your power as a parent or would-be parent to win universal child care.
You must RSVP to attend.
FREE child care provided!
RSVP below:
Rally and Campaign Launch: Universal Child Care NOW!
Governor Hochul says she wants to get us on a pathway to Universal Child Care so parents and future parents are going to Albany in 2026 to make sure the Governor knows that we’re all in!
Join us on December 11th at 10 AM outside the Governor’s office in Midtown Manhattan as we launch this game-changing campaign! RSVP below and be part of this historic moment.
Champions for Child Care Annual Benefit
Join us for a fun filled afternoon on Saturday, December 6, to celebrate our successful year organizing for universal child care — and look forward to even more power building ahead! We’ll have activities for the kids and delicious drinks and snacks for the grownups!
Leaders Strategy Zoom Meeting: NY State Campaign
In 2026, New Yorkers United for Child Care will be launching our first state campaign for universal child care! We need your help to plan how we’ll win more universal child care at the state level. Join us on Zoom for a training on state advocacy and then we'll work together to form our state campaign plan.
RSVP below and we’ll send you the Zoom link:
Virtual Grassroots Fundraising 101
Getting organized is how we build power to win free child care. But all that organizing takes resources. Printing petitions and signs, hiring community organizers, providing child care at meetings — all of that takes money.
But together, we can raise it with small donations.
On Wednesday, November 12th, you’ll learn how to recruit your friends and family to help resource the movement for universal child care. Join us for this virtual training and opportunity to engage your network to win universal child care.
November 12th from 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Register Here
NYC Budget 101: How to Win Funding for Universal Child Care
Q: How did we save 3-K from the worst of the Mayor’s cuts and win $10 million for universal child care for 0-2 year olds?
A: We showed up at rallies, spoke to the press, and flooded City Council’s offices with calls (just to name a few) during NYC’s budgeting process.
Join us for a training on how the NYC budget process works and then together we’ll continue to work on our campaign plan for winning 2-Care in 2026.
This will be a great opportunity to learn more about how the NYC budget process works and connect with parents and would-be parents in the fight for universal child care.
As always, FREE child care is provided at the meeting, but you MUST RSVP below:
Leaders Strategy Meeting: 2026 Campaign Planning
On October 18th, we’re going to map out the plan to win 2-Care in 2026!
Join us for a campaign development training and then start building out our month by month 2-Care campaign plan.
This will be a great opportunity to learn how to take your experiences as a parent and would be parent in New York and turn it into power. You’ll also connect with fellow parents and would-be parent leaders from all over the city.
*Free child care is provided but you must RSVP by Saturday October 11th to reserve your spot.
RSVP below:
Strategy Meeting
Join us for a strategy meeting where we’ll hold a media training and then work together to continue to plan our 2-Care campaign!
Communications expert Asya Pikovsky who previously worked on campaigns at BerlinRosen, Center for Popular Democracy, and The Justice Collaborative will be leading our media training.
This is a great place to connect with other parents and would-be parents and to help us shape the fight for universal child care.
*Free child care is provided but you must RSVP to guarantee your spot. RSVP Below:
Back to School Pep Rally: Kickoff for 2-Care
Join us on Sunday September 7th 10:30am-12:00pm for a rally at City Hall Park to re-launch our campaign for 2-Care!
This year we won a start to 2-Care with $10 million for free child care for 0-2 year olds and we’re not done yet. We’re re-launching our campaign to fight for free child care for all ~60,000 NYC 2 year olds.
This is a family friendly event so please bring your kids, we’ll have activities for them.
RSVP below:
What is 2-Care?
2-Care is free child care for all ~60,000 NYC 2 year olds and would be a full-day and full-year of care.
Why 2-Care?
Care for 2 year olds costs families an average of $23,400 per year.
We know how to do it! NYC already created Pre-K for All and Free 3-K . We have the knowledge and experience to take the next step, age down and help families stay in NYC!
Astoria Open Streets Farmer's Market Petitioning
Help us build parent power in Astoria!
Join parents and would-be parents at Astoria Open Streets Farmer’s Market to gather petition signatures for 2-Care, free child care for 2 year olds.
We are demanding that Mayor Adams implement 2-Care for ALL 60,000 NYC 2 year olds and need your help to get LOUD.
This will be a great opportunity to get to know fellow parents and would-be parents and help us spread the word about our fight for universal child care!
We’ll be there 1:00-5:00PM but feel free to join at any time. *Our table will be set up closer to 34th St on 31st Ave.
RSVP Below:
Forest Hills Petitioning
Join us in Forest Hills in front of Forest Cafe for coffee and petitioning! This will be a great opportunity to meet other Forest Hills parents and help us gather 2-Care petition signatures. RSVP below:
Strategy Meeting
Join us for a strategy meeting to plan the next steps of our fight for universal child care! We’ll hold a brief advocacy training and then start planning together.
*Free child care if provided but you must RSVP by Monday 7/21 to guarantee a spot.
RSVP Below:
Happy Hour De-Brief
To celebrate and de-brief the wins for universal child care in the final city budget, join us for drinks and bites! This will be a great opportunity to hear about how all of your hard advocacy work has paid off and connect with fellow parents and would-be parents. RSVP below:
Father’s Day “Cookout” at City Hall
UPDATE: Rally has been moved to Monday June 16th at 10am.
In this last stretch before the budget finalizes, join us for a Father’s Day “Cookout” at City Hall! Parents, would-be parents, and elected officials will rally to push for:
-2-Care
-City Council’s proposal to get us on a pathway to universal child care with 3,500 non income tested seats for 0-2 year olds
to be included in Mayor’s final budget.
We need your voice! Will you join us?
RSVP below:
Jackson Heights Meet & Greet with Council Member Krishnan
Join New Yorkers United for Child Care and Council Member Shekar Krishnan at Travers Park to learn about our fight for universal child care and how you can get involved!
RSVP Below:
Digital Day of Action
We’re in the home stretch of City budget negotiations and child care hangs in the balance.
We need all hands on deck to ensure that we get the 2-Care funding we have fought for.
Join us on Wednesday, June 4th for a Digital Day of Action to demand City Council Members hold the line and protect the 2-Care seats that could save families thousands in the coming year.
Here’s how you can take part:
⭐Share your story about why 2-Care is important to you on social media
⭐Call your City Councilmember to demand they push for 2-Care in the City budget - including the Council’s proposal for 3,500 non-means tested child care spots for 0-2 year olds.
We’ve made it easy with a toolkit that has sample social media posts and graphics you can share, as well as a call tool to contact your City Councilmember. Make sure to tag @NY4ChildCare so we can lift up your posts!
Full toolkit for calling and posting here.
RSVP below:
Data Entry Pizza Party
Join us for after work for a data entry pizza party! We did such an amazing job of collecting 2-Care petition signatures on our citywide day of action so now we need to get them all into our database.
This will be a great opportunity to connect with other parent and would-be parent leaders and help us continue to build our membership. RSVP below:
Citywide Day of Action: Playground Petitioning
Join us on Saturday May 17th for a citywide day of action where we’ll be gathering 2-Care petition signatures at playgrounds all across NYC to tell Mayor Adams that we want 2-Care! This will be a great opportunity to connect with families in your neighborhood and join the fight for free child care for 2 year olds.
Where to Meet & When:
Astoria: Astoria Heights Playground, 10:00am-12:00pm
BushRidge: Irving Square, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Ditmas Park: Cortelyou Tot Lot, 10:30am-12:00pm
Flatbush: Parade Ground, 11:00am-12:30pm
Greenpoint: McGolrick Playground, 10:30am-12:00pm
Jackson Heights: Travers Park, 10:30am-12:00pm
Middle Village: Juniper Valley Park, 10:30am-12:00pm
Park Slope: JJ Byrne Playground, 10:30am-12:00pm
Sunnyside: Lou Lodati Playground, 10:30am-12:00pm
UWS: Toll Family Playground, 5:00-7:00pm
Washington Heights: Buunni Coffee - Pinehurst (from there will disperse to Bennett Park, Javits Park, J Hood Wright Park, and Anne Loftus Playground), 10:30am-12:00pm
Windsor Terrace: Greenwood Playground, 10:00am-11:30am
How to Join:
-Sign up for a location in the dropdown below.
-The site leader will be in touch as we get closer to the day of action.
-Join our Tuesday 5/13 training 8:30-9:30pm on Zoom!
RSVP below.
Citywide Day of Action Volunteer Training (Zoom)
To prepare for our Saturday 5/17 Citywide Day of Action, join us for a volunteer training on Zoom. We’ll talk through everything you need to have a great playground petitioning in your neighborhood. RSVP below:
Bring Your Kid to City Hall Day
Because of the relentless advocacy of parents, would-be parents, and City Council, we had a universal child care win in the Mayor’s executive budget for the extended day 3-K and Pre-K pilot!
This win means that a few thousand 3-K and Pre-K kids will get FREE full workday seats next year.
Join us and City Council Finance Chair Brannan on Thursday May 8 at 2:30pm at City Hall Park for a rally to thank City Council for fighting for NYC families and to ask Mayor Adams for full workday seats for ALL 3-K and Pre-K families who want one.
Since Mayor Adams won’t fund full workday 3-K and Pre-K seats for all 3-K and Pre-K families, let’s bring our kids to City Hall when the day ends at 2:30pm and tell him take care of our kids!
RSVP below.
BushRidge Parent + Baby Meetup
Join us for a parent and baby meetup in partnership with BushRidge Moms on Saturday May 3rd 3:00-5:00pm at Washington Irving Library. It will be a great opportunity to connect with local families and also chat about our fight for universal child care, including 2-Care, our campaign for free child care for 2 year olds. RSVP below:
Playground Petitioning w/Council Member Riley
Join us at Angelo Campanaro Playground on Wednesday April 30th at 5:00pm in partnership with Council Member Kevin Riley to gather 2-Care petition signatures and connect with local families! Will we see you there? RSVP below:
Spring Social
Join us for a kid-friendly party to support our work so we can build the power needed to win FREE child care for all!
Citywide Day of Action Planning Meeting
Join parents and would-be parents for a planning meeting for our upcoming citywide day of action (we’ll be gathering 2-Care signatures at playgrounds all across the NYC)! Our planning meeting will be on a Zoom call (after kid bedtime) on Thursday April 10th where together we’ll start planning for our big day. RSVP below: