In spring 2016, Puente’s Family Engagement Project Manager, Arlae Alston, convened a group of local mothers to plan a solution for the single greatest need for families with young children on the South Coast: childcare. In October, the first-ever bilingual parent cooperative childcare center for 18-36 month olds opened its doors to eight toddlers in a room attached to the main office. A committee of local parents, two accredited teachers, and Alston herself now oversee Sueños Unidos (“United Dreams”) Cooperative. One day, Linnea Hoffman saw her two-year-old son, Grant, and other children playing with dirt in a corner of the playground, and thought: “I can make a sandbox!” She found some mesh and a tarp and sought donations of wood and sand. Her husband, Shawn, built the box in a day. Now the kids have a sandbox big enough for them all. Later, Jaime López Rodríguez, grandfather to Emiliano, a spirited toddler who loves to play, built a redwood fairy house complete with kitchen seats made of tree stumps. His son gave him the idea. Jaime said, “I have the wood, I can build it myself. I pictured my grandson playing in there.” Grant has gone from the world of a stay-at- home kid to a world of learning through play. He and Emiliano and the other kids get to water real pumpkins, finger- paint, play with clay and sand, and cook. Hoffman feels part of something important: pioneering a program that has already changed her life and could one day have a big impact on her community. Creating a special place for children 1040hours of childcare in programs horas de cuidado infantil en programas 6 4 7 5 hours of child-centered learn i n g . 4 7 5 h o r a s d e enseñanza centrada en niño s p e q u e ñ o s .