In this video, Loretta Chavez Aja, owner of a Phoenix-area early childhood center, talks about the importance of early childhood education and the support she receives from organizations including Quality First.

She also shares how two of her daughters also became early childhood educators and what that means to her.

This video interview was made possible thanks to a grant from Valley of the Sun United Way. AzAEYC’s Stories from the Field initiative elevates the voices and lived experiences of Arizona’s early childhood educators to highlight the importance of early care and education for children, families, and our communities.