Early Childhood Group's Director Departs To Focus On Legislature

BRANFORD, CT — Founding executive director of the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative Robin Comey will leave the agency at the end of December to "focus solely on her role as state representative."

Comey was reelected in November as state rep for the 101st district.

“We want to thank Robin for her contributions to BECC and the early childhood community of Branford. Robin has brought tremendous value to the organization since its founding, growing the resources and opportunities Branford families have come to rely on for supporting our youngest learners,” board co-chair Sarah Cohen said.

“While at BECC, Robin has expanded access to free professional development for childcare providers, produced The Children’s Resource Guide to serve English and Spanish-speaking families, has grown the annual Week of the Young Child event into a community favorite, all while advocating for and supporting the professionals and families that nurture the development of Branford’s early learners.”

Comey, who was inducted into the Branford Education Hall of Fame in 2019, said that while she'll leave her post at the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative, she remains "committed" to "ensuring Branford has the resources we need to raise healthy and successful children.”

“Leading the BECC has been an opportunity of a lifetime. Together we’ve transformed the conversations Branford is having about children’s development and the role parents and caregivers play in their lives,” Comey said. “I remain committed to bringing my knowledge of the Early Learning and Education field and my passion for the issues facing families with young children, to my state policymaking, ensuring Branford has the resources we need to raise healthy and successful children.”

BECC has retained Harvest Development Group to engage the community in a 2021 direction setting strategy building effort to ensure that BECC will continue to support the evolving needs of early care providers as the COVID-19 landscape continues to impact the lives of Branford families, businesses, and the early childhood industry that serves them.

Since 2001, Branford Early Childhood Collaborative has fostered an environment to inspire those with young children to become educated, engaged, thriving caregivers who cultivate positive early childhood learning experiences for every child in their care. BECC works tirelessly with community partners to improve the health, safety and education of all Branford families and children through programs such as the Early Care Provider Roundtable, The Week of the Young Child, Branford Healthy Smiles, and The Children’s Resource Guide. BECC is the cornerstone organization in Branford focused on young children and supporting the development of quality childcare initiatives, and has developed a wide variety of relationships with stakeholders not only at the local level, but at the state and national leaders of early education.

Harvest Development Group empowers nonprofit leaders by giving them the path and the tools to overcome barriers, so they can set and fulfill their purpose.