Supplementing early childhood educators’ wages has gone a long way toward addressing a longtime crisis. Even if the program doesn’t survive the city’s budget process, it should remain an example for local, state and federal efforts.

At the rally, Moline spoke about her own experience as a provider and her struggles to make a living for herself and her four children.

“I’m living in poverty,” she said. “It’s not right. It is not right that the people that are caring for our youngest members, who are going to grow up and be the next generation of leaders, it is not okay for us to be struggling this hard.”