Episode 46: How Head Start Changes Lives. Northern Virginia Family Services
What if the future of your community is shaped long before a child ever walks into a kindergarten classroom?
In this inspiring episode of the We're Good Podcast, host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee takes listeners inside the newly opened Ashburn Farm Early Childhood Development Center, operated by Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS), to uncover why high-quality early childhood education, affordable child care, and Head Start programs are among the most important investments a community can make.
At the heart of this episode is the remarkable full-circle story of Dennis DeLoach, Director of Early Childhood Programs at NVFS. Once a Head Start student himself, Dennis now leads the very program that helped change the trajectory of his own life. His journey—from a young child in Birmingham, Alabama, to educator and nonprofit leader—is a powerful reminder that one opportunity can transform generations.
Stephanie Berkowitz, President and CEO of Northern Virginia Family Services, shares how NVFS has spent more than a century helping families overcome barriers to stability, economic mobility, and long-term success. Together, they reveal why early learning is about far more than child care. It's about brain development, school readiness, family stability, workforce participation, economic opportunity, and stronger communities.
Listeners will discover how NVFS wraps comprehensive support around entire families—from family advocates and career planning to health, nutrition, literacy, and social-emotional development—while creating joyful learning environments where children build confidence through play and exploration.
The episode also explores the hidden child care crisis affecting Northern Virginia, why accessible early education benefits employers and local economies, and how volunteers, corporate partners, and community members can help shape brighter futures.
Whether you're a parent, educator, nonprofit leader, policymaker, donor, or simply someone who cares about building thriving communities, this episode offers a look at the life-changing impact of investing in children during their earliest years. Because when we give children a strong start, we don't just change one life—we strengthen the future of an entire community.
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