All Our Kin is a left-of-center nonprofit organization based in Connecticut that supports and trains child care providers. Headquartered in New Haven, All Our Kin organizes programs in other Connecticut cities and has recently expanded operations to states across the country. ¹

History

All Our Kin was established in 1999 in response to the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996. ² The organization initially included two staff members, six children, and six mothers in a New Haven housing development. ³

Overview

All Our Kin has grown to support childcare networks in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York City, involving over 1,100 educators who work with approximately 5,500 children. All Our Kin has grown its influence through direct replication, partnering with local organizations across the country and working with hundreds of other practitioners through its technical assistance initiative. ⁴ All Our Kin uses its various programs to support child care providers though educational and business development programs and various tool kits to assist with provider licensing. ⁵

Associations

All Our Kin is affiliated with the Arbor Brothers, a grantmaking organization dedicated to providing funding for “social entrepreneurs.” All Our Kin was a member of the original Arbor Brothers portfolio and returned as its first alumni grantee in 2017. In total, All Our Kin has received approximately $443,000 in unconstrained funding from Arbor Brothers. Jessica Sager, All Our Kin co-founder and executive director, claimed that its partnership with Arbor Brothers fueled the organization’s growth and expressed hope of working with the grantmaking organization again to continue All Our Kin’s national expansion. ⁶

All Our Kin is associated with Yale Law School, counting the Ludwig Center for Community and Economic Development as a long-time client. The Ludwig Center has worked with All Our Kin to assist in legal, regulatory, and policy advocacy effort, supporting All Our Kin to influence various local, state, and federal policies that affect family care providers. The Ludwig Center has also represented All Our Kin in multiple legal proceedings and has assisted in training All Our Kin affiliates on their legal rights and responsibilities. ⁷

All Our Kin is also associated with the Esther A. and Joseph Klingenstein Fund.  The Fund has worked with and invested in All Our Kin since 2016, specifically supporting All Our Kin’s expansion into New York City. The Klingenstein Fund also helped to launch All Our Kin’s policy advising work and supported All Our Kin’s technical assistance programs throughout Hartford, Nebraska, New York City, and New Jersey. ⁸

Leadership

Jessica Sager is the chief executive officer and co-founder of All Our Kin. She is a graduate of Barnard College and Yale Law School and is trustee of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund. ⁹

Erica Philips is the chief operating officer of All Our Kin. Philips was previously senior director for the Achievement First Charter School Network. Philips began her career as a Strategy Consultant for Monitor Group has been a fellow for NextGen America and Education Pioneers. ¹⁰

Janna Wagner is co-founder and chief learning officer of All Our Kin. She graduated from both Yale College and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Wagner previously taught in the South Bronx through Teach For America. ¹¹

1. All Our Kin.” Social Venture Partners. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.socialventurepartners.org/connecticut/profiles/2724/.
2. “History.” All Our Kin. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.allourkin.org/history.
3. “Provider Showcase Associate Director, Southern Connecticut.” All Our Kin. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.allourkin.org/sites/default/files/Provider%20Showcase%20Director.pdf.
4. “Our Mission.” All Our Kin. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.allourkin.org/our-mission.
5. “All Our Kin.” United Way of Western Connecticut. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://uwwesternct.galaxydigital.com/agency/detail/?agency_id=37957.
6. “All Our Kin.” Arbor Brothers. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.arborbrothers.org/grantees/all-our-kin/
7. “All Our Kin – Yale Law School.” Yale Law School. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://law.yale.edu/studying-law-yale/clinical-and-experiential-learning/our-clinics/ludwig-center-community-economic-development/all-our-kin.
8. “All Our Kin.” Klingenstein Philanthropies. Last modified August 18, 2020. https://klingenstein.org/esther-a-joseph-klingenstein-fund/early-childhood/all-our-kin/.
9. “Staff.” All Our Kin. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.allourkin.org/staff#executiveleadership.
10. “Staff.” All Our Kin. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.allourkin.org/staff#executiveleadership.
11. “Staff.” All Our Kin. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.allourkin.org/staff#executiveleadership.