The Betsy Awards

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm, recognized for its deep commitment to ensuring all families and caregivers in Los Angeles County have the opportunity to thrive. Connections for Children’s collaboration with Public Counsel has been a true asset to our work and to the broader early care and education community.

Public Counsel’s Know Your Rights trainings and resources have provided vital guidance to CFC staff, families, and child care providers navigating immigration-related concerns. The Child Care for All toolkit, developed in partnership with the Los Angeles County Office for the Advancement of Early Care & Education, has also become an essential resource for providers seeking to expand or renovate their facilities.

Through its community development, children, youth & families, and immigrants’ rights programs, Public Counsel provides know-your-rights materials, community trainings, and legal assistance to help families remain safely together. The organization continues to advance the rights and dignity of children, youth, and families throughout Los Angeles County through direct legal services, impact litigation, and community-driven advocacy—removing barriers and building stronger, more equitable communities.

Childhood Education Professor at El Camino College, former CFC Quality and Career Coach

Cynthia Cervantes has devoted her career to expanding equitable access to early childhood education through her work as a Childhood Education professor at El Camino College (ECC). Since 2017, she has advised the student-led Child Development Club, helping cultivate a strong community of future educators and creating family-friendly programming that supports children, caregivers, and parenting students. Cynthia has strengthened ECC’s support systems by developing parenting and early childhood coursework, contributing to campuswide initiatives such as FamilyU, and collaborating with programs including CARE, CalWORKs, FIRST, and the Social Justice Center. Her work continues to strengthen supportive, family-centered environments and create meaningful opportunities for future educators. A former CFC Quality and Career Coach, Cynthia continues to champion the agency’s mission through her work at the College and across the early childhood education community. She has also taught at East Los Angeles College, John Adams Child Development Center and Brentwood Presbyterian Nursery School. She remains a committed champion of early childhood education across the region and brings both professional expertise and lived experience as an educator, mentor, and parent of three young children.

Former Santa Monica College Board of Trustees

Dr. Louise Jaffe has been a longtime advocate for equitable access to education, beginning with her leadership in the Santa Monica-Malibu PTA and continuing through her service as a Santa Monica College Trustee from 2006 to 2022. She has consistently elevated the importance of early childhood education in public policy and institutional planning, ensuring that resources and attention are directed toward the youngest learners. As a co-chair and founding member of Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS), she spearheaded local funding initiatives that now generate over $40 million annually for SMMUSD—resources that directly support high-quality, accessible programs for children and families. Her vision of education as a “lifelong learning community” underscores her commitment to dismantling barriers so that children of all backgrounds can thrive from early childhood through higher education. Dr. Jaffe is also an active member of the Santa Monica Early Childhood Task Force, which activates community stakeholders as advocates for resources and programming that enhance child and family wellbeing.