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Mirna Cartagena

Imagine Spotlight: Mirna Cartagena

January 17, 2023

This week, we’re proud to feature Mirna Cartagena, serving as a mentor and child care provider in Washington. MEET MIRNA Family is very important to Mirna Cartagena, so when she started working with her sister at the home of a child care provider, she knew it was something she was passionate about and was eager to learn more. COMING TO THE UNITED STATES Mirna grew up in El Salvador and is the oldest of four sisters. She got an education there, and

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Imagine Spotlight: Jezel Ann Dagang

January 16, 2023

This week, we introduce you to Jezel Ann Dagang, who is child care provider in Washington State. MEET JEZEL She recently became a licensed child care provider, but Jezel Ann Dagang says her passion to teach kids started at a young age with help from her family. THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY Jezel grew up in the Philippines and was the oldest of her siblings. She says she helped them out whenever she could and often passed along what she knew to them

Read More

Imagine Staff Spotlight: Nadia Burkur

December 22, 2022

This week, we’re proud to feature Nadia Burkur, who is child care provider and mentor in Washington. MEET NADIA It’s not something she thought she’d be doing, but now Nadia Bukur says child care has become a passion for her. Working with the Imagine Institute as a mentor, she is helping others in her community become providers, and take advantage of the opportunities being offered. FROM CNA TO CCSG Nadia came to the Western Washington from Ethiopia in 2000, with her family.

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A cartoon image of a teacher playing guitar in a classroom full of children

Sharing Our Thanks for Child Care Providers

November 18, 2022

In this season of thankfulness, the Imagine Institute is especially grateful for the child care providers we work with across Washington State.  Your time, effort, generosity, and love help so many children— along with their families and communities. All of us at Imagine are thankful for you and honored to provide programs and services to support you. To highlight our amazing child care community, we asked a few people who work with the Imagine Institute to share the things they love about

Read More

Imagine Spotlight: Myra Ann Astronimo

August 19, 2022

This week, we’re proud to feature child care provider Myra Ann Astronimo, working in Western Washington. MEET MYRA ANN She started as an Intern with the Imagine Institute, but soon, Myra Ann Astronimo found herself as a Mentor with Imagine U, helping others reach their goal of becoming a licensed child care provider, just like her. becoming a provider Myra Ann was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States in 2005. She and her family moved to Snohomish County.

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Imagine Spotlight: Mildred Van Wechel

June 16, 2022

This week, we’re proud to feature Mildred Van Wechel, serving as a child care provider in Western Washington. MEET MILDRED It started as a way to provide for her family, and now Mildred Van Wechel is coming up on 15 years of serving her community. Child care is something she became passionate about, and it’s all thanks to the help from The Imagine Institute. JOURNEY TO CHILD CARE Mildred was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the United States

Read More
A professional portrait of a woman with dark hair and a blue sweater

Imagine Staff Spotlight: Marie Keller

June 2, 2022

This week, we’re proud to feature Marie Keller, Imagine’s Director of Career Pathways. Meet Marie Marie Keller knows how much skill and insight child care providers bring to their profession, because she’s experienced it from so many sides. Marie ran her own child care business for 21 years and worked with a child care union to listen to providers across Washington State. Now, she leads Imagine U, the Imagine Institute’s signature relationship-based mentoring program that has helped nearly 400 people open their

Read More
Allison Jesus

Imagine Staff Spotlight: Allison Jesus

May 26, 2022

This week, we are proud to feature Allison Jesus, who is a Program Assistant with Imagine. Meet Allison She grew up in Western Washington, but her roots as a Pacific Islander have shaped the way Allison Jesus views her community. She decided to focus on child care at an early age and has now found a home at the Imagine Institute. “I was looking for a new job working with youth. So, I stumbled across Imagine and fell in love with their whole mission

Read More
Sabah Saed

Imagine Staff Spotlight: Sabah Saed

April 26, 2022

This week, we are proud to feature Sabah Saed, who is currently a Child Care Stabilization Grant Technical Assistance Program Lead. Meet Sabah Sabah Saed has been with the Imagine Institute for years, and says she is excited to still be a part of the great work they are doing. Sabah is currently one of the leads for the Child Care Stabilization Grant Technical Assistance Program, but she has had many different roles throughout her time with Imagine, and each step has

Read More

Imagine Spotlight: Gloria Vasquez Hernandez

March 8, 2022

This week and for International Women’s Day, we are proud to feature Imagine U lead mentor and state-approved trainer Gloria Vasquez Hernandez. Meet Gloria When Gloria Vasquez Hernandez decided to open a family child care businesses in Wenatchee, Washington, she knew she could provide a safe and caring space. She knew she could fill a need in her community. But she didn’t know how to become licensed. Gloria found herself frustrated with complex requirements and paperwork. She considered quitting, but pressed on

Read More
Mirna Cartagena

Imagine Spotlight: Mirna Cartagena

January 17, 2023

This week, we’re proud to feature Mirna Cartagena, serving as a mentor and child care provider in Washington. MEET MIRNA Family is very important to Mirna Cartagena, so when she started working with her sister at the home of a child care provider, she knew it was something she was passionate about and was eager to learn more. COMING TO THE UNITED STATES Mirna grew up in El Salvador and is the oldest of four sisters. She got an education there, and

Read More

Imagine Spotlight: Jezel Ann Dagang

January 16, 2023

This week, we introduce you to Jezel Ann Dagang, who is child care provider in Washington State. MEET JEZEL She recently became a licensed child care provider, but Jezel Ann Dagang says her passion to teach kids started at a young age with help from her family. THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY Jezel grew up in the Philippines and was the oldest of her siblings. She says she helped them out whenever she could and often passed along what she knew to them

Read More

Imagine Staff Spotlight: Nadia Burkur

December 22, 2022

This week, we’re proud to feature Nadia Burkur, who is child care provider and mentor in Washington. MEET NADIA It’s not something she thought she’d be doing, but now Nadia Bukur says child care has become a passion for her. Working with the Imagine Institute as a mentor, she is helping others in her community become providers, and take advantage of the opportunities being offered. FROM CNA TO CCSG Nadia came to the Western Washington from Ethiopia in 2000, with her family.

Read More
A cartoon image of a teacher playing guitar in a classroom full of children

Sharing Our Thanks for Child Care Providers

November 18, 2022

In this season of thankfulness, the Imagine Institute is especially grateful for the child care providers we work with across Washington State.  Your time, effort, generosity, and love help so many children— along with their families and communities. All of us at Imagine are thankful for you and honored to provide programs and services to support you. To highlight our amazing child care community, we asked a few people who work with the Imagine Institute to share the things they love about

Read More

Imagine Spotlight: Myra Ann Astronimo

August 19, 2022

This week, we’re proud to feature child care provider Myra Ann Astronimo, working in Western Washington. MEET MYRA ANN She started as an Intern with the Imagine Institute, but soon, Myra Ann Astronimo found herself as a Mentor with Imagine U, helping others reach their goal of becoming a licensed child care provider, just like her. becoming a provider Myra Ann was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States in 2005. She and her family moved to Snohomish County.

Read More

Imagine Spotlight: Mildred Van Wechel

June 16, 2022

This week, we’re proud to feature Mildred Van Wechel, serving as a child care provider in Western Washington. MEET MILDRED It started as a way to provide for her family, and now Mildred Van Wechel is coming up on 15 years of serving her community. Child care is something she became passionate about, and it’s all thanks to the help from The Imagine Institute. JOURNEY TO CHILD CARE Mildred was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the United States

Read More
A professional portrait of a woman with dark hair and a blue sweater

Imagine Staff Spotlight: Marie Keller

June 2, 2022

This week, we’re proud to feature Marie Keller, Imagine’s Director of Career Pathways. Meet Marie Marie Keller knows how much skill and insight child care providers bring to their profession, because she’s experienced it from so many sides. Marie ran her own child care business for 21 years and worked with a child care union to listen to providers across Washington State. Now, she leads Imagine U, the Imagine Institute’s signature relationship-based mentoring program that has helped nearly 400 people open their

Read More
Allison Jesus

Imagine Staff Spotlight: Allison Jesus

May 26, 2022

This week, we are proud to feature Allison Jesus, who is a Program Assistant with Imagine. Meet Allison She grew up in Western Washington, but her roots as a Pacific Islander have shaped the way Allison Jesus views her community. She decided to focus on child care at an early age and has now found a home at the Imagine Institute. “I was looking for a new job working with youth. So, I stumbled across Imagine and fell in love with their whole mission

Read More
Sabah Saed

Imagine Staff Spotlight: Sabah Saed

April 26, 2022

This week, we are proud to feature Sabah Saed, who is currently a Child Care Stabilization Grant Technical Assistance Program Lead. Meet Sabah Sabah Saed has been with the Imagine Institute for years, and says she is excited to still be a part of the great work they are doing. Sabah is currently one of the leads for the Child Care Stabilization Grant Technical Assistance Program, but she has had many different roles throughout her time with Imagine, and each step has

Read More

Imagine Spotlight: Gloria Vasquez Hernandez

March 8, 2022

This week and for International Women’s Day, we are proud to feature Imagine U lead mentor and state-approved trainer Gloria Vasquez Hernandez. Meet Gloria When Gloria Vasquez Hernandez decided to open a family child care businesses in Wenatchee, Washington, she knew she could provide a safe and caring space. She knew she could fill a need in her community. But she didn’t know how to become licensed. Gloria found herself frustrated with complex requirements and paperwork. She considered quitting, but pressed on

Read More
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