90% of all human brain development happens before age 5. Early childhood development and education initiatives that are multifaceted and combine improvement efforts inside learning environments with extensive, holistic family engagement and comprehensive support for children and families have been proven to be the most effective. A holistic, integrated school and community hub model is a distinguishing factor for SAZ and how we deliver our programming.
Marian Wright Edelman, Founder - Children's Defense Fund (CDF)
Dr. Amanda Vega
Executive Director
Joselin Cepeda
Family & Community Support Worker
Arleen Martinez
Director of Programs
Meredith Mershon
Director of Finance
Briana Moore
Family & Community Support Worker
Esmeralda Ramirez
Bilingual Family & Community Support Worker
Rasheedah Villarreal
Wellness Coordinator
Donta Goodwin
PRESIDENT
Brothers Liberating Our Communities
TaSean Lockett
TREASURER
Jackson County, Children's Division
Richard Abram II
Ewing Marion Kauffman School
Melissa Brown
Hollis + Miller Architects
Nita Parker
Marketeering Group
Jonathan Pitallo
VIVE Promo & Print
Danielle Small
Alive & Well Communities
Courtland Smith
Hogan Prep Academy
Demario Richardson
KC Care Health Center
Janita Webb
UMKC Institute for Urban Education
Dr. Karenbeth Zacharias
University of St. Mary
Start at Zero proudly recognizes the exemplary service, leadership,
and trailblazing of its founding, emeritus members of its Board of Directors.
Angela DeWilde, Founder, Start at Zero
Stephenie Smith
Emily Buckley
Scott Hall
Edgar Palacios
NaTika Rowles
Darryl Answer
Rick Winslow
Start at Zero’s mission is to partner with parents and caregivers to promote healthy early childhood development. Our ultimate goal is to achieve comprehensive health, education, and development for children prenatal to age five and their families. Our vision includes a thriving educational ecosystem that sets all children up for a lifetime of success. We understand that fulfilling our mission and vision is not possible without approaching our work from the lens of structural and systemic inequities that persist in the city of Kansas City, MO. With this in mind, we make our commitments and actions transparent in our JEDI statement.
Click here to read our JEDI statement in full.
Start at Zero understands the significance of having shared language and understanding of key terms to be critical to any JEDI work. Because of this, we lean on the definitions utilized by the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP). Please reach out to info@startatzero.org with any comments or questions.