It took a lot of courage to start her own child care business. But with support from Neighborhood House’s Oregon Child Care Alliance, Olga Maldonado started Un Nuevo Amanecer in 2023.

Olga worked in child care for 15 years and always dreamed of becoming her own boss. Through OCCA, she worked with a business coach who helped her apply for a grant to jumpstart her home-based program. OCCA provided a wealth of other resources, like access to a classroom curriculum to enhance the education Olga provides, and software to streamline the business side so she can concentrate on the children. It took a year of work, but OCCA gave her a strong foundation to make sure Un Nuevo Amanecer would succeed and thrive.

Olga is the perfect OCCA success story: opening more quality, affordable child care slots for Oregon families while helping small business owners create generational wealth.

It took just six months to fill all 10 child care slots, and Olga has a wait list for more families.

Olga’s business name, Un Nuevo Amanecer, translates to A New Sunrise. “I chose this name because, for me, every sunrise is a new opportunity to improve and make a difference,” Olga said.

The space at Un Nuevo Amanecer feels cozy, with different activities and nooks for students to explore and be creative. By matching toys to their images on shelves, students participate in their environment and contribute to the classroom. Using the Creative Curriculum provided by Preschool Promise, Olga lets the children’s interests guide the classroom throughout the day, such as findings leaves together or other child-led activity. With thoughtfully-placed furniture, Olga has been able to make an open floor plan inviting and exciting for her students.

With her passion for working with children and commitment to building a strong foundation for her business, we are proud and grateful to work with Olga as she continues to learn and grow as an early education small business owner.

I started using the Free Food Market. I learned about more programs that could help us. But the biggest change wasn’t the services themselves.

It was how I was treated. 

For the first time in my entire life, I was met with dignity. 

I wasn’t talked down to. I wasn’t made to feel ashamed for needing help. I wasn’t forced to “prove” I deserved to survive. At Neighborhood House, people spoke to me with genuine respect, something I have so often not been given, simply due to my circumstances. That changed everything. Even now, it still brings tears to my eyes. 

When you’re disabled, when you’re parenting alone, when you’re just trying to get through the day without falling apart…asking for help is hard. Being treated with kindness backed by action? It’s life-changing. 

That kindness empowered me. 
I joined the Head Start Policy Council. 
I became involved in statewide advocacy work. 
And eventually, when someone asked if I would consider joining the Neighborhood House Board, I said yes. 

Being on the board fills a need I’ve carried my whole life: the deep need to give back. There is so little any one person can do alone. But when we connect, when we come together as a community, everything becomes possible. 

People sometimes ask me why services like Neighborhood House still matter. 

My answer is simple: 

Because income inequality is growing. 
Because our systems do not prioritize people in poverty. 
Because without places like Neighborhood House, people really would go hungry. Children would go without resources necessary to thrive. Housing insecure families would be turned out into the streets. 
And that is simply not acceptable.

Until we change the systems that create these conditions in the first place, we need community-based organizations that keep people alive, keep families housed, and treat every neighbor with dignity.

And there’s one more thing I want you to know:

No one chooses this. 

Everyone is doing the best they can. 
Sometimes people just need a little boost.

When you donate or volunteer at Neighborhood House, it is truly life changing. You may never meet every person you help—but please know there are so many of us who feel overwhelmed with gratitude because these services exist.

I am one of them.

So today, as we close out the year, I’m asking you to help more neighbors like me.

Here’s how you can help right now: 

  • Make a gift today — your support goes directly to families who need it most.
  • Start a food dr​ive — our Food Security Program is a lifeline and always needs support. 
  • Share my letter with a friend who believes in a more just and caring community.

Thank you for believing in this work.

Thank you for believing in people like me. 

With gratitude,

Love 
Board Member & Program Participant 
Neighborhood House 

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