Meet Your Neighbor: Jen Rhodes

“I’ve spent my career working in child-focused nonprofits, much of that time in early childhood. It felt like an inevitable field for me because it’s the most crucial time to create lasting impact. Before joining LENA, I worked at an early childhood-focused foundation where LENA was one of our grantees. When the foundation sunsetted, the opportunity to join an organization I already admired felt like the perfect fit.

LENA aims to transform children’s futures through early talk technology and data-driven programs. Early talk—or conversational turns—is the back-and-forth interaction between caregivers and children that helps build a child’s brain during the earliest years of life. Many people don’t realize how powerful those everyday conversations are, and that’s what makes this work so meaningful.

As Manager of Philanthropic Impact, I work across fundraising, strategy, and impact while partnering with organizations like Queens Community House. When I joined LENA in 2022, QCH’s Queens Childcare Network was exploring bringing LENA Grow to family child care providers as they emerged from the isolation and stress of the pandemic. Their success helped demonstrate what was possible and laid the foundation for expanding LENA Grow to family childcare networks across NYC. Today, QCCN remains one of LENA’s ambassador sites and a model for high-quality implementation.

A visit I’ll never forget was meeting Ms. Mildred at her family childcare program in Jamaica, Queens. You could immediately feel the caring, interaction-rich environment they had created. The children were smiling, engaged, and eager to share their energy with everyone who walked through the door. It was a reminder that when educators receive meaningful coaching and support, children thrive.

What I’ve appreciated most about working with QCCN is their willingness to be true partners. They’re always eager to share what’s working, what they’re learning, and how they can better support providers. As NY continues investing in early childhood, I’m excited we’ve moved beyond proving this work can succeed. Together, we’re helping childcare providers create lasting impact for children and families.”

—Jen Rhodes