Washington State Early Childhood Expert Chosen for International Leadership Development Program

Cynthia Turrietta is among 20 leaders from across the U.S. and around the world selected to deepen equity and innovation, give babies and toddlers a strong start in life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS: Elena M. Teare, elenat@openarmsps.org, Gina Davis, gdavis@zerotothree.org, Romelo Wilson, rwilson@westendstrategy.com

WASHINGTON, DC (September 24, 2024) – ZERO TO THREE, the leading nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life, today proudly announced that Cynthia Turrietta from Seattle, Washington, is joining its 2024-26 Fellowship Class, its premier leadership development initiative.

Cynthia Turrietta is the director of programs at Open Arms Perinatal Services. As a bilingual professional, she bridges language barriers to ensure comprehensive support for families by designing and implementing culturally responsive community-based programs during pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period. 

“I am filled with a deep gratitude and a profound sense of responsibility. I look forward to growing as a professional and exploring the opportunities to drive equitable and transformative practices within our field and workforce. This work is truly collaborative, and with our cohort of amazing and talented individuals from various sectors, the possibilities are endless. Our babies, families, and communities deserve nothing less than our very best efforts,” said Turrietta.

Turrietta is one of 20 exceptional early childhood leaders from across the U.S. and around the world, selected from a pool of 225 applicants. These Fellows represent a range of professional specialties, including infant and early childhood mental health clinical services, program administration, research, and early childhood policy. They serve in urban and rural communities across the U.S., Canada, Kenya, Peru, and Uruguay.

“A first-generation Latina and Director of a BIPOC team whose clients are over 90% BIPOC, Cynthia brings to the fellowship a deep commitment and unique experience with designing and implementing community-designed programs, promoting culturally-aligned services in partnership with an IECMH team which centers equity, intersectionality, and relationship-based practice,” said Lynette Aytch, director of ZERO TO THREE’s Leadership Development Institute.

The 18-month Fellowship is designed to support the next generation of early childhood leaders in embracing a courageous, just, and collaborative approach to transforming programs, systems, and policies to give babies and toddlers a strong start in life.

“Each fellow comes with a transformative vision and a strong commitment to driving bold innovations that will help babies thrive and build a brighter future for all,” Matthew Melmed, executive director of ZERO TO THREE. “Collectively, this class brings a rich diversity of knowledge, leadership experiences, and organizational affiliations that will spark innovation and momentum as we advance equitable solutions across the early childhood field.” 

A signature component of the fellowship experience is the advancement of an aspirational Vision for Change, which Fellows propose in their fellowship application. “The goal is to support the Fellows in advancing the Vision in collaboration with a diversity of colleagues, community partners, and allies to move the vision forward. In addition, the fellowship includes four intensive retreats, monthly strategic coaching, and mentorship to deepen Fellows professional skills and relationships as they strive to make the world a better place for infants and toddlers,” Aytch said.

Upon completion of the Fellowship, the class will join more than 300 national and international leaders from previous cohorts as members of the esteemed Academy of ZERO TO THREE Fellows Alumni Network. 

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About ZERO TO THREE

ZERO TO THREE works to ensure all babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. Since 1977, the organization has advanced the proven power of nurturing relationships by transforming the science of early childhood into helpful resources, practical tools, and responsive policies for millions of parents, professionals, and policymakers. For more information and to learn how to become a ZERO TO THREE member, visit zerotothree.org, linkedin.com/company/zero-to-three/, facebook.com/zerotothree or @zerotothree on X.

About Open Arms Perinatal Services

Founded in 1997, Open Arms is the first independent, community-based program in Washington State to provide comprehensive perinatal services to over four thousand economically marginalized families. We are a predominantly BIPOC organization that provides free support during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood with birth and community-based outreach doula services, lactation counseling, and social service referrals to over 500 families annually throughout the Puget Sound region.

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