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Top Takeaways is a series of recaps from important conversations, town halls, webinars and virtual events about early learning.

Last November, voters in Multnomah County, Oregon, approved a measure to form a new universal preschool system. To pay for it, the county, which includes the city of Oregon, will collect a 1.5% tax on incomes of more than $125,000 per year and joint filings topping $250,000 (the rate climbs higher in subsequent years). On Aug. 30, Social Venture Partners Portland held a to coincide with the that explores the journey and outlines the 鈥渦niversal lessons learned,鈥� a phrase that implies an expectation that other municipalities will follow suit.

The event featured:

• , Parent Accountability Council
• Erin Upton and Nikka Tahan,

Here are our takeaways:

1. Policy victories take time and skillful navigation. Each of the panelists cited a number of different stakeholders, all of whom had different interests. Every step of the way required flexibility, diplomacy and careful maneuvering through power dynamics. The first item on list of universal lessons is the importance of conveners: 鈥淎t every step of the way it was essential to have knowledgeable and adaptive individuals who knew not only who to bring together, but how to do so in a meaningful and effective manner.鈥� Implementation of the program will take more of the same; as 鈥檚 new leader, Leslee Barnes, takes the helm, the coalition needs to sustain its support.

2. Find a political champion. Commissioner Pederson, who had already worked on this issue in state legislature, became an instrumental ally. Taking a stand means taking a risk, and Pederson鈥檚 reputation was on the line, but she was a firm believer in the transformation that was possible 鈥渋f every child had a preschool that was right for them and every family could afford it.鈥� Pederson credited the 鈥渂road base of support,鈥� singling out Vice-Chair Mark Holloway for championing the work, listening to the community, and bringing public and private stakeholders together. She acknowledged that, given Portland鈥檚 progressive voter base and population of high earners, the tax was the right mechanism here for achieving the goal, but other communities might come up with other solutions.

3. Co-create with a range of stakeholders. Molly Day of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, maintained, 鈥淎s systems builders, we want parents at the center. I don鈥檛 pick who鈥檚 at the table.鈥� The Dialogues in Action team met with 44 interviewees鈥攑arents, educators, health care professionals and more. Gray-Holyfield praised the firm for going beyond the standard model of 鈥渉olding a focus group and then not using anything you don鈥檛 want to hear.鈥�

The panelists stressed that in community organizing, power is not tied to money and winning isn鈥檛 what matters. Instead, it鈥檚 about having communities guide and have ownership. 鈥淥ur voice mattered,鈥� said Gray-Holyfield. 鈥淭his is our vision that came to fruition, and that鈥檚 a beautiful thing.鈥�

4. Local initiatives can drive the national conversation. Whether or not other municipalities adopt Multnomah鈥檚 tax mechanism, they will look at the system of universal preschool and see teachers who look like their students. They鈥檒l see languages children speak at home spoken in classroom. They鈥檒l see teachers getting paid a livable wage. No child in Multnomah will be expelled or suspended. Wraparound social services will be provided. Free preschool includes free before- and after-care鈥攜ear round and not just during school year. What鈥檚 most replicable about this campaign is that the community designed its own system.

5. Live your values. No matter who joined the movement鈥攍ow-income parents, philanthropists, union members, women鈥檚 rights advocates鈥攖hey shared a commitment to values like universal access, racial equity, inclusion and mutual respect. Gray-Holyfield鈥檚 description of the Parent Accountability Council captured this spirit. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a big family,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese are my sisters and we can be our authentic selves with each other in order to unpack whatever it is we need to unpack.鈥�

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 91涩漫. Learn more here.