Gladys Jones is the Founder & CEO of ECE on the Move, a grassroots organization dedicated to empowering, organizing, and advocating for Family Child Care educators, parents, and communities across New York City. With more than 20 years of experience as a Group Family Day Care educator and owner, Gladys has devoted her life to nurturing children, supporting families, and strengthening the early childhood workforce. As the former owner and operator of GaGa Daycare, she created a safe, educational, and inclusive environment where children, including those with special needs, could learn, grow, and thrive. Her firsthand experience navigating the challenges of Family Child Care inspired her to become a passionate advocate for systemic change. Through ECE on the Move, Gladys works to elevate the voices of Family Child Care educators, build parent leadership, and advance policies that promote equity, sustainability, and recognition for the profession. Gladys firmly believes that education begins at birth and that Family Child Care educators must be fully recognized as educators, not simply as a workforce support service. Her advocacy focuses on increasing investments in early childhood education, expanding access to affordable child care, eliminating barriers for providers and families, and ensuring that Family Child Care has a permanent seat at every policy table. Under her leadership, ECE on the Move has grown into a powerful movement that brings together providers, parents, advocates, and policymakers to create lasting change. Gladys is committed to building a future where Family Child Care educators are respected, adequately resourced, and recognized as an essential part of New York’s educational system. Her message is simple: “If education begins at birth, then public investment, recognition, and respect for educators must begin at birth as well.”