Spotlight PR brings quality public relations assistance into reach for mission-driven causes as well as socially conscious entrepreneurs, celebrities and executives.

Press Releases

Recent Victories Show Momentum for Free Child Care Growing

Posted on


For Immediate Release

PHILADELPHIA – Support for fully funded, universal child care continues to grow. Through years of grassroots organizing, parents, child care providers and advocates, are finally being heard. In November, New Mexico became the first state to offer universal child care thanks to the work of OLE NM. In New York, citizens elected a child care champion in Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani. In Ohio, advocates with The CEO Project are working with legislators to ensure child care providers have what they need to serve children and families. The advocates issued the following statement:

“Every child deserves access to high-quality child care and pre-K—and this must be a top priority for Pennsylvania,” said Tyrone Scott, Director of Government and External Affairs, First Up. “Recent victories across the country show what’s possible when communities organize. At First Up, we are committed to ensuring that every child in Pennsylvania gets the strong start they need to thrive, child care is affordable to families, and early educators are paid a living wage.”

“From Ohio to New York to New Mexico, voters are demanding child care that works for every family,” said Tamara Lunan, Organizing Director of the CEO Project. “Ohio families deserve the same—affordable, high-quality care and fair pay for the people who provide it. We’re ready for leaders who treat child care as the essential infrastructure it is.”

“Child care shows us what solidarity looks like in practice – people showing up for one another and building the conditions for liberation from the ground up. To make it truly universal is to claim it as a public good that belongs to all of us. This victory has sparked hope far beyond New York, and we intend to see that momentum grow until equity and justice are the standard everywhere,” said Marina Marcou-O’Malley and Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, our Co-Executive Directors of Alliance for Quality Education New York (AQE New York). 

These wins provide much-needed fuel for parents and child care educators in other states.  For more information or to book an interview, email press@spotlightpr.org.

###

Revolve Fund to Provide $20,000 to Support Food Access Efforts in Alabama Black Belt

Posted on

For Immediate Release

SELMA – As over 40 million Americans grappled with the reality of not being able to feed themselves or their families due to SNAP delays, Revolve Fund is seeking to help. Revolve Fund today announced a $20,000 community grant to the Black Belt Community Foundation as part of the duo’s continued partnership. The grant will increase the foundation’s capacity to execute programs and fundraise to support food access efforts in the Alabama Black Belt region.

“Revolve Fund complements its core mission of improving capital access for entrepreneurs by partnering with leading organizations that are addressing critical community needs,” said James Wahls, Founder and Managing Director, Revolve Fund. “Like BBCF, Revolve understands at the most fundamental level, everyone should have access to healthy food.”

“BBCF is deeply grateful for the Revolve Fund’s grant to underwrite direct food support in the Black Belt during the current disruption of SNAP benefits, continuing high food costs and unprecedented strain on our local food banks,” said Christopher Spencer, President & CEO, Black Belt Community Foundation. “As BBCF mobilizes resources and community partners during this time, Revolve is one of the first philanthropic organizations to step forward to support our Food for Families in the Black Belt Campaign. We look ahead to our productive, continued partnership with them to positively impact and transform the Black Belt region of Alabama.”

“While our communities need and deserve so much more, we hope our contribution will support the foundation’s ability to work with other philanthropic partners, individual donors, charities, and public partners.” Wahls added.

###

470,000 Faces of Hunger: The Urgent Call to Save SNAP

Posted on
For Immediate Release
 
 
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Charles Coe, executive director and chief brand compliance officer of the Incredible Kids Learning Organization, today lamented the devastating impacts of the loss of SNAP benefits on children, child care providers and parents. Warning that parents are on a hamster wheel and lacking critical resources, he released the following statement:
 
“If child care providers, many of whom are already struggling, must now work in an environment where SNAP is not available to families they serve, the pain will be compounded. It’s terrifying for them, but also for parents.
 
“It is horrifying for parents to reckon with not being able to feed their children. It’s equally frightening for child care providers to question how they’ll care for kids in their program, at a time when so many lifeline services are being decimated.
 
 
“The loss of SNAP benefits will put more stress on parents and child care providers. Parents often pride themselves on being able to put food on the table. When they cannot do that, it strikes at the core of what it means to be a provider and protector.”
 
 
“We are already living in a period where parents are running on hamster wheels due to a lack of resources. Many parents feel that they may not have the biggest, most fabulous homes; but if they have food to feed their children, they’re content. The loss of SNAP benefits strips away everything that parents cherish.
 
 
“Meals are more than sustenance. Families bond over meals, share admiration for each other over meals, hear updates on the day, and plan the future. Simply put, the family unit is disrupted when there is no food. The love of parents is reflected in the meals they’re able to provide, in the notes they put in their children’s snack pack, and so much more. It is essential that our leaders do everything they can to ensure parents can feed their children.”
###

The Scariest Halloween Ever: Child Care Educators Lament the Dire Predicament of Millions of Families

Posted on
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Early child care educators and advocates today tried to image the scariest part of Halloween 2025, alternating between the government shutdown, the potential loss of SNAP benefits as well as possible Head Start cuts. Even before the shutdown, many families were tinkering on the brink of disaster. Many have yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Early childhood education advocates issued the following statement:

 

“Ninety percent of the families in our community are in distress,” said Ifrah Nur of Kids Count on Us in Minnesota. “They struggle every day just to meet their basic needs and are on the verge of losing their homes. The income they earn barely covers rent — just enough to keep a roof over their heads. If food assistance (SNAP) is taken away, I don’t know what will happen. Not being able to feed their children would create unimaginable hardship.”

“One parent told me her entire paycheck goes toward rent. After that, she has only $100 left, which must cover utilities,” Nur continued. “She’s a mother of four, without a car, and she can’t afford clothes or shoes for her children. She said, “If I don’t get food benefits this month, I’ll have to use my rent money to buy food. And if I do that, I’ll lose my home.” This is not okay. Families who already have nothing are being punished while those with wealth lose nothing during a government shutdown. The system must protect the most vulnerable — not take away the little support they have left.”
“The people we work with in Georgia will feel real, tangible, deep cuts of not only the government shutdown but proposed budget cuts,” said Erin Clark, an organizer with 9to5 Georgia. “We are seeing that many Head Start programs will face dire circumstances come November 1 when over 140 programs will not receive funding if the government shutdown continues. Not being able to access child care or Head Start programs will impact parents’ ability to go to work and to continue contributing to their workplaces.”
According to the First Five Years Fund, one in three child care providers is facing food insecurity. Losing access to SNAP will have massive ripple effects on the child care industry, both for families and for providers. Reports indicate that than 40 million Americans may go hungry due to a loss of SNAP benefits.
“We know that early childhood educators in Georgia largely rely on programs like SNAP, so we are going to see big impacts not just on families but also for our early childhood educators,” said Clark. “There are a number of providers who will pay from their own pockets to help subsidize child care for parents who may not be able to pay that child care bill week-to-week because they feel very deeply for these experiences that parents are going through. This government shutdown is just highlighting the continued need for long-term investment in child care so that our providers are able to respond to these moments and are better funded.”
“Hearing that families might not have access to food subsidies, means that we must figure out how we can support them,” said Tarrezz Thompson, an Ohio child care provider and advocate with The CEO Project. “We don’t want parents in a position where they’re having to make difficult choices [about how to eat].”
###

Child Care Advocates Fear What Will Happen When SNAP Benefits Cease; Urge Action on Shutdown as Lifeline Programs Face Cuts

Posted on

For Immediate Release

SAVANNAH, GA – It’s been nearly one month since the federal government shutdown, and child care educators today voiced concern over the dire circumstances facing children, families and child care educators. With funds to programs like SNAP and Head Start running out, many providers fear the families they serve will be unable make ends meet. Erin Clark, a child care organizer with 9to5 Georgia; and Tarrezz Thompson, a child care provider in Ohio, expressed concern for the families they work with on a day-to-day basis. You can watch/listen to their comments here and here.

“The people we work with in Georgia will feel real, tangible, deep cuts of not only the government shutdown but proposed budget cuts,” said Erin Clark, an organizer with 9to5 Georgia. “We are seeing that many Head Start programs will be facing dire circumstances come November 1 when over 140 programs will not receive their funding if the government shutdown continues. Not being able to access child care, Head Start programs, will impact parents’ ability to go to work and to continue contributing to their workplaces.

“We also know that early childhood educators in Georgia largely rely on programs like SNAP, so we are going to see big impacts not just on families but also for our early childhood educators,” said Clark. “There are a number of providers who will pay from their own pockets to help subsidize child care for parents who may not be able to pay that child care bill week-to-week because they feel very deeply for these experiences that parents are going through. This government shutdown is just highlighting the continued need for long-term investment in child care so that our providers are able to respond to these moments and are better funded.” According to the First Five Years Fund, one in three child care providers is facing food insecurity. Losing access to SNAP will have massive ripple effects on the child care industry, both for families and for providers.

“Hearing that families will be in a place where they might not have access to food subsidies, means that we must figure out how we can support them,” said Tarrezz Thompson, an Ohio child care provider and advocate with The CEO Project. “We don’t

want to parents in a position where they’re having to make difficult choices [about how to eat].”

“This is not the first time I’ve had to operate in a space where we’re dealing with food insecurity with our children, but my program was in a more stable space when that was happening,” Thompson added.

###

Despite Wins in a Handful of States, More Action is Needed on Child Care  

Posted on
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Movement at the federal level on child care continues to stall amid partisan fights. What’s more, the Big Beautiful Bill Act will reduce states’ access to federal dollars for health and food nutrition. Now more than ever, organizers must passionately advocate for state investments in child care and other supportive services. This is the only way to keep young families whole.
Fortunately, grassroots organizers are pushing back on cuts and harmful policies to win change for children and families. Over the past several months, child care providers and advocates defeated policies that would have pushed child care out of reach for hundreds of thousands of individuals and families. Below is a list of some of the defensive gains. If you’d like to speak with any of the groups below, please let us know.
No matter how dire the moment, we know that we can win if we refuse to quit. These victories demonstrate that when parents, child care providers and advocates work together, they can move mountains on behalf of children and the early childhood educators who serve them.
“While children and families still live in a world where lifeline services – such as housing assistance, food assistance, and a fully-funded child care system – are undermined, we will not surrender hope,” said Lenice C. Emanuel, Executive Director of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice.
###

Revolve Fund Invests $400,000 in Detroit-Specific Grantmaking; Its Founder is Eager to Do More

Posted on

For Immediate Release

DETROIT – Revolve Fund announced it is ramping up its commitment to Detroit entrepreneurs. With recoverable grants, traditional grants, and other supports, Revolve increases capital access for small businesses owned by, or tax-exempt organizations led by, historically marginalized entrepreneurs.

“To date, Revolve Fund has deployed or committed over $1.2MM in funding nationally with over $400,000 deployed or set aside for Detroit-specific grantmaking,” said James Wahls, founder and managing director of the Revolve Fund. “Revolve’s first-mover funding has already helped with developing $15 million in additional capital access in Detroit. Catalytic capital like ours can make the difference between scaling and stagnation.”

Revolve has flexibility to support or invest at times during an entrepreneur’s journey where many loan or equity investment funding options cannot. Through its approach, Revolve can assist entrepreneurs or investors to test or scale revenue models without increasing debt or taking equity. “James deserves recognition for taking this concept of recoverable grants and growing it in different markets and understanding fundamentally that there was promise and opportunities in this space. He’s been building the ecosystem and leveraging his connections and relationships to support small businesses,” said Sharnita Johnson, Revolve Fund Board Member and Vice President of Impact, Strategy and Communications at the Victoria Foundation.

Wahls has worked for years supporting entrepreneurs and investors nationally through impact investing roles at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Mission Investors Exchange, and Revolve. But for Wahls, born and raised in Detroit, Revolve’s increased commitment to Detroit is personal. Earlier in his career while at Kellogg, Wahls led the development of the Detroit Entrepreneurs of Color Fund concept and the foundation’s seed investment to Detroit Development Fund that has resulted in millions in capital access for Detroit entrepreneurs.  Prior to his stint at Kellogg, he co-launched a Detroit-focused early career placement website that helped hundreds of area students and new graduates find meaningful employment.

Revolve’s recoverable grantee partners in Detroit include Invest Detroit Ventures to finance inclusive micro-venture investments, Black Leaders Detroit to support its expanding lending capacity for Detroit businesses, and The Mushroom Angel, an emerging vegan food manufacturer based out of Eastern Market.

“It’s important that there are groups such as the Revolve Fund that are willing to take the earliest and highest risks,” said Patti Glaza, executive vice president of Invest Detroit Ventures. “We need investors to understand that there are returns more valuable than just dollars. Investing in people and building a tech culture require groups like Revolve Fund.”

When Invest Detroit Ventures launched its Funding Access and Mentorship program, Revolve was the project’s first outside funding partner. “It was an important validation for the program to have an outside funding partner,” Glaza noted. “We were using return dollars to fund this because we knew it was risky capital. We were working with founders before they had a stable revenue stream. The partnership from Revolve was additive because it allowed us to make both investments and complimentary grants to our founders.”

Revolve also offers smaller traditional grants to local stalwart organizations to support efforts related to Revolve’s mission, help inform Revolve’s regional activities, and assist with building Revolve’s recoverable grant applicant pool. Grantee partners include Black Tech Saturdays, one of the fastest growing tech movements in the nation, College Career & Beyond, a regional leading nonprofit supporting young adult/early adult career programming, and the Detroit Regional LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. Kevin Heard, president of the Chamber, noted in his recent social media post that “Revolve’s community grant to the Chamber is going to fund 100 hours of 1:1 business support to small businesses” in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan.

Funded by institutional grants and donors, Revolve seeks greater partnership with Detroit philanthropy and local donors committed to increasing capital access that goes beyond available loans and equity investments options in the city. Current and past funders include W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Surdna Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Max M. & Marjorie Fisher Foundation, and PNC Bank.

###

The VRA at 60: the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is Both a Bedrock and a Target

Posted on
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON – On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, author of “Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation,” and professor of sociology and African American studies at the University of California at Los Angeles, released the following statement:
“Representing a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 increased voter access and civic engagement, removing racially-motivated systemic barriers to the ballot box.
“As we mark the anniversary of this landmark legislation, we recognize the active attacks on democracy, voter suppression, and the inability to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill.
“Sixty years later, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is both bedrock and a target requiring vigilance and renewed commitment to defending and ensuring voting rights for all Americans. We uplift and venerate the legacy of all of the courageous people who marched from Selma to Montgomery and remind ourselves that democracy belongs to every citizen regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, background, or zip code.”
###

Child Care Advocates Lament One Big Beautiful Bill Act as ‘Big Betrayal Act’

Posted on
Image preview
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON – At a time of rising costs, and escalating pressure, early childhood education advocates today reacted to the Senate’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“The passage of the reconciliation bill re-affirms the administration’s and congress’s assault on families across the country,” said Lorena Garcia, Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition. “Families will hurt and suffer and in turn our communities will struggle to thrive. Senate leaders affirmed that the needs of everyday families must be sacrificed for the greed of the wealthy.”
Yale’s Budget Lab found that the bill will result in the bottom 40% of American households losing income, while the top 0.1% gain an extra $118,000. These giveaways to the ultra-wealthy, corporations, and Big Oil are coupled with billions of dollars for the already-bloated Pentagon budget and the Trump immigration agenda. This does not advance our child care agenda even marginally. 
“While Republicans prioritize tax breaks for billionaires, they’re simultaneously stripping away basic healthcare and support systems from those who need them most,” said Danielle Atkinson, Executive Director, Mothering Justice. “Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” should actually be called the “Big Betrayal Bill”—because if it’s passed into law the wealth gap in this country will widen to astronomical levels. Mothers of color and working families across the country did not elect their representatives to protect the ultra-wealthy. The GOP made one thing clear: if they are left in charge, working class families will always come last.
“Through their budget priorities, all three branches of government are putting their values on full display and the stakes for our communities couldn’t be higher,” said LaDon Love, executive director, SPACEs in Action.
“Make no mistake about it, this policy decision will reverberate across generations, making the difference between who can eat, who can care for their families, and who can otherwise survive,” said Lenice Emanuel, executive director, Alabama Institute for Social Justice.
###

Amid a Profound Backsliding on Racial Equity; Advocates for Racial Justice Must Never Relent

Posted on

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON – Race Forward today celebrated Juneteenth by urging advocates for racial justice to continue organizing for a nation where all belong and all can thrive. Citing that such work strengthens democracy, the national racial equity organization released the following statement, which can be attributed to its president Glenn Harris:

“It is not lost on us that this Juneteenth, the nation is experiencing a profound backsliding on racial equity. We are witnessing an acceleration of regressionists efforts to rollback multi-racial progress. These anti-democratic efforts will not only harm Black and Brown people, they will erode the very fabric of the nation.

“However distressing the current political climate may be, we should be clear that those who favor freedom and justice have never relented. Whether we know their names or benefit from their work, in every community, there are people who are pushing back on white supremacy, and policies that harm Black and Brown communities.

“For instance, this week a coalition of federal legislators and advocates rallied for the reintroduction of key reparations measures. Rep. Summer Lee reintroduced the Reparations Now resolution, which was first introduced in 2023 by former Rep. Cori Bush . The resolution urges the federal government to allocate trillions of dollars in reparations to Black Americans to compensate for chattel slavery, and federally-sanctioned policies that harmed, and continues to harm, Black Americans.

“Earlier this month, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Cory Booker reintroduced H.R. 40, which was originally championed by the late Rep John Conyers. The measure would create a federal commission to examine the lasting impact of slavery, systemic racism and racial discrimination. It would also explore recompense such reparations.

“Our collective goal as a movement and a people should be to reclaim what has been lost or damaged; and remain resilient in the face of current attacks. We should also create the conditions for a resurgence of movements, policies and practices that ensure equal opportunity, and the strengthening of democracy.”

###