This episode of Nonprofit Report features Erin Fisher, CEO of Bright Beginnings, who shares how the Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit supports children and families experiencing homelessness through early childhood education and two-generation support systems.
Guests:
Erin Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, Bright Beginnings
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Key Points:
- Homelessness includes more than street living—it includes shelter use, doubling up, and housing insecurity.
- Bright beginnings provides early education paired with support for parents through a two-generation model.
- Every family is matched with an advocate to help set and reach personal goals in housing, education, or employment.
- Teachers and family advocates build trust by showing consistency and treating children with care and respect.
- A “care team” model brings multidisciplinary staff together biweekly to respond to family crises and track progress.
- Programs are data-informed, allowing services to adapt based on community needs like food insecurity or job access.
- Parent voices drive planning, policy, and grant decisions, ensuring services remain responsive and dignified.
Other Points on Bright Beginnings:
Bright Beginnings sees homelessness through the eyes of the child—prioritizing stability, education, and emotional safety. Most of the children served are not on the street, but in unstable housing situations that disrupt routines, health, and development.
The organization’s strength lies in its holistic approach. Every child is nurtured through high-quality early learning while parents receive individualized support from workforce training to mental health services. This dual focus ensures the family unit grows stronger together.
Staff recruitment often begins in the classroom: parents of enrolled children are supported to become educators themselves, bringing unmatched empathy and community insight into the work. The result is a team that reflects and understands those it serves.
Bright Beginnings proves that transformational change happens when programs listen, adapt, and invest in the whole family. Its flexible, responsive model blends public funding with private initiative—demonstrating how nonprofits can lead the way in building lasting solutions to family homelessness.