August 10, 2025
In my 20 years with the First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission, I have had the privilege of working alongside Solano’s families to ensure their young children have access to the resources they need to thrive.
Each day, it is profoundly meaningful to witness how caring for our youngest community members, ages 0-5, can open doors for families who too often face a lack of support before their children enter kindergarten.
During challenging times, what has made our work truly meaningful, going beyond our commitment to Solano’s children, is the caring partnerships that make it possible for us to continue supporting families without pause. Among these partnerships, our collaboration with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has been especially significant. The tribe contributes $500,000 annually to First 5 Solano.
When the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation first connected with us, they shared a simple and heartfelt message: “First 5 Solano’s community work takes place on our ancestral lands, and we want to support our Solano families.” This conversation marked the beginning of a relationship that has strengthened the way we care for families in our community.
Since the beginning, our work has been funded by California’s tobacco tax revenues (Proposition 10). As fewer people are smoking, revenues have dropped. While this decline is a public health success worth celebrating, it also means organizations like ours must find new ways to sustain our services. First 5 Solano’s association with the
tribe has helped our mission to continue.
Our latest endeavor is the First 5 Center in Fairfield, which is expected to be open in the summer of 2026.
On behalf of First 5 Solano, I want to thank the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for their alliance. Together our children will get the foundation needed to become productive adults.
Michele Harris
Executive director of First 5 Solano, which funds programs and services that support opportunities for Solano County’s youngest children (ages 0-5) and their families, strengthening early childhood systems for future generations.