15 Apr Family Child Care Home Improvements
Two girls, one dream. (see video below)
Four years ago, we—Monica Martinez and Maria Cooper—had a dream: to open our own childcare space. And we did it. The journey to bring that dream to life was filled with uncertainty and challenges. We navigated rules and regulations, built a business plan, sacrificed time with family and friends, studied hard, secured financing, and attended countless meetings.
But through it all, we had something powerful on our side—determination, focus, and a deep passion for building a career we truly love. Most importantly, we had the guidance of incredible mentors: Toni Green and the amazing team at ECPAC, and Susan Flood with RMC. Their support made all the difference.
We still remember the first time Toni reached out to us with an email, introducing herself and offering financial and educational resources. From that moment on, she became a guiding light—connecting all the missing pieces we didn’t know how to put together. Her expertise in early childhood education helped us navigate areas we had no prior knowledge of.
Without the Emerging and Expanding Grant [from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood] — and Toni’s support throughout the entire funding process—it’s very possible that our dream wouldn’t have come to life the way we had envisioned it.
Two years ago, we opened the doors to our family childcare home, Tree of Life—a name inspired by the vibrant Mexican folk art árbol de la vida, or “tree of life.” This symbol represents creation, family, cycle of life, and hope. Our vision is rooted in nurturing each child as a precious seed, with the belief that, with love and care of the whole community, they will grow into strong, flourishing trees. “We know your child is a precious seed who will grow into a beautiful, flourishing tree with the help of all.”
We are a team of three dedicated individuals. Alongside us, Mónica and María, Leticia Jaik is also an essential part of Tree of Life. She prepares delicious and nutritious meals for the children each day. Combined with our professional training and a thoughtfully designed classroom—filled with materials and furnishings that inspire learning and play—our space has naturally attracted families who love what we offer. With the valuable support of the North Metro Denver SBDC, especially marketing consultant Diego Leyes, we were able to fill our childcare program quickly.
Now, we’re excited to share that we’re planning to expand this year by opening a second location, allowing us to welcome more children from our community while maintaining the same high-quality care we’ve always provided. Once again, Toni has played a key role in this journey—she introduced us to a beautiful space that’s perfect for our new center. We plan to open our doors in the summer of 2025.
Our success story is also the story of our community—a story of mutual support, where helping others brings help in return. It’s a reflection of how the cycle of life or the Tree of Life continues to grow, create, nurture, and hold hope for a brighter future for our little ones.