Jessica Chang’s Post

Beyond textbooks and tuition, securing quality childcare is a huge hurdle for parents pursuing higher education. Across the county, it can actually cost MORE than average in-state tuition at public universities! That's why partnerships like ours with Mt. San Antonio College are so important. By working together, we're empowering student-parents to achieve their academic and professional goals, knowing their loved ones are well taken care of!

See you in DC tomorrow for the first-of-its-kind National Child Care Innovation Summit! Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, this groundbreaking event brings together a diverse group of stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Our goal? To inspire actions and partnerships that ensure all families have access to affordable, quality childcare—a key driver of economic competitiveness. I'm excited to share insights and collaborate on solutions! Catch me at 2:30 pm on the "It Takes a Village: Spotlighting Supply Innovation Care Champions" panel with Olivia Rosenthal and Moriah Balingit. Look out for Bobby Isaacson and Lilly Janine Alexander (née Casillas) from Upwards' team in the audience. We can't wait to connect with all the amazing people in the room! My thanks go to Liat Krawczyk, Melinda Garrett, Caitlin Codella Low, Aaron Merchen, and Sasha Nicholas for your outstanding commitment to solving childcare issues and for the tremendous work you've done in the past few months putting this event together. Let's make this a turning point for childcare in America!

Big shout-out to Park City Municipal Corporation, Summit County Utah and Park City Community Foundation for their dedication to addressing childcare needs! Upwards is thrilled to join this community effort. By building on the initial program's successes, we'll offer innovative technology and our expertise in childcare to support more families and caregivers throughout the region.

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate moms, but for many, it’s also a reminder of the challenges working families face. This year, I spent part of the day traveling across the country to continue our mission: ensuring access to reliable, high-quality childcare for all families, especially those who serve our country. I’m thrilled to announce the expansion of Upwards’ Military Childcare program to U.S. Army National Guard families in 20 states! This builds on the program’s success supporting United States Army Reserve families over the past 10 months, and aligns with our nearly 7-year commitment to ensuring quality childcare for all families. I’m incredibly proud of the Upwards team. Every day you go above and beyond to ensure every family has the childcare they deserve! Our deepest respect goes to all service members. Upwards stands with you, ensuring your support village is strong. Here's today's press release announcing the expansion: https://lnkd.in/djCdrw4E Help us spread the word and help more military families benefit from this program: https://lnkd.in/gZzQGhiF

Empowering families & defying the odds! Had an amazing chat with Laura Modi Co-Founder & CEO of Bobbie, at the #CNBCChangemakers Summit last month. We discussed how our companies are tackling market gaps to better support families. As fellow mom entrepreneurs, we shared insights into our journeys and what fuels our commitment to our missions. Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gN93A9v9 Huge thanks to Julia Boorstin and the CNBC team for creating such an inspiring space for women leaders. Thrilled to have been a part of the #CNBCChangemakers Summit and to have met and learned from amazing leaders like Kristin Peck (Zoetis), Laura Modi, Dr. Angela Shippy MD (Amazon Web Services (AWS), Priscilla Sims Brown (Amalgamated Bank), among many others, who are tackling crucial issues across various industries. Jessica Berman Gina Raimondo Cathy Engelbert Priscilla Almodovar Kate Ryder Svanika Balasubramanian Norah Weinstein Kelly Sawyer Patricof Geetha Murali Gina Mastantuono Liat Krawczyk Jacqui Canney Jamie Caniglia CNBC Events

Excited to get on stage with Laura Modi of Bobbie and Julia Boorstin next week in New York at the inaugural CNBC Changemakers Summit on April 18! If you’re attending, join us for our conversation on the business of motherhood. We’ll be discussing leadership as a working mom, navigating entrepreneurship, and how our businesses are addressing unmet needs in the market to help other families. The night before, Upwards will be hosting its own pre-Summit networking event in Manhattan, bringing together public and private sector leaders to focus on how we can better support working parents through innovative childcare solutions. If you’re in NYC and working on this important issue, I’m excited to extend a limited number of invitations to Upwards’ amazing LinkedIn network. If you are interested DM me or email us at press@upwards.com. #CNBCChangemakers.

What an outstanding group of women to find myself in! Thank you CNBC for the recognition and choosing me as part of the 2024 CNBC Changemakers! This is truly shared with our entire team at Upwards who are committed to solving care for good. Together, we make it possible every single day for our vision to become a reality! #CNBCChangemakers

Thrilled to be part of this important conversation with these remarkable women leading the way in shaping the future of childcare benefits in the workplace! The link between women’s economic empowerment and accessible quality childcare is undeniable🔗. Looking forward to tomorrow and diving into solutions to support and uplift women and families everywhere! Thank you, Aaron Merchen, for bringing this important topic to the agenda! Shari Eaton (she/her) Chobani Molly Day Moms First Reade Pickert U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation #iwd2024 #womenshistorymonth

Excited for Upwards to be in the spotlight in the latest CNN Business article on childcare solutions for working families! Discover how companies like One Workplace are using Upwards to provide flexible childcare benefits beyond traditional on-site daycare, empowering their employees to thrive. Thank you, Jeanne Sahadi, for your thorough research and for taking the time to learn about Upwards' unique model, which solves the Rubik’s cube of childcare for both families and employers alike.

Today, the Upwards dream takes a giant leap forward! We're thrilled to announce our $21 million Series B funding round led by Alpha Edison, with participation from our existing investors M13 and Fika Ventures. We've achieved so much in just six years, thanks to the tireless efforts and innovation of our team, dedication of our caregivers, and support of our employer and government partners. This investment is a testament to the power of technology and collaboration as well as the undeniable growing need for accessible, quality care for all families. To our investors, thank you for supporting our mission to solve care. The momentum we’ve built over the last six years is only going to grow as we continue to help more families and make an even bigger impact. Read the full press release here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gxJkT5dj The future is Upwards!