About Us

Where we started, Where we’re going

Be My Voice! Hawai‘i is a collaborative, public-will building campaign, whose mission is to raise support around early childhood education, family strengthening and health services. We are businesses, non profits, families and community groups who believe that supporting our youngest keiki benefits the whole state by reducing spending on special needs, and increasing the number of children prepared for kindergarten and graduating from high school, ultimately leading to a skilled workforce and a stronger economy.

The campaign was launched at the October 2010 Governor’s Forum to raise awareness of the devastating affects cuts to family strengthening and early education programs have on Hawai‘i’s future. We continue to meet with and encourage legislators, business leaders, providers and families to speak up so that Hawai‘i’s children are a top priority in our state.

Our Goal

We believe all children deserve the opportunity to succeed. And the way to reach this goal is to create a dedicated funding stream that provides all children, under the age of five, with quality early learning programs and services. We realize our goal will take time to achieve, so we’ve developed a plan that provides us with an opportunity to get results right away. It’s as easy as ABC.

The ABC Plan

	All 4-year-old children in Hawai‘i will have access to a quality early childhood education.
	Build public will for services that strengthen families and support healthy children.
	Create a designated funding stream to support quality early learning and family strengthening and health services for all children, under the age of five.

What’s next?

Investments in Hawai‘i’s future begin with investments in our keiki. Be My Voice! Hawai‘i believes the economic future of our state and the stability of the communities we live in depend on the health, safety, and readiness of our children being the highest priority of government, business, non-profit institutions, and families.

The campaign is committed to raising the public’s awareness of how quality early learning services and programs positively affect young children, especially those at-risk, their families, and their communities.

We will inform parents and the political, business and civic leaders across the state about this issue and encourage them to make informed decisions in supporting the needs of our children, including in the way we invest our public resources.

Our Team

• Deborah Zysman, Good Beginnings Alliance Executive Director
• Jacce (JC) Mikulanec, Policy and Community Partnerships Director
• David Tom, Legislative Outreach
• Ku'ulani Keohokalole, M.A., Oahu Policy & Public Engagement Specialist
• Darcie Scharfenstein, Communications Outreach
• Kanoe Nāone, PhD, Early Childhood Liaison
• Gary Kai, Leadership Council Liaison
• Dee Jay Mailer, Leadership Council Chairperson

Photo courtesy of INPEACE.