Published in the Star Tribune on January 3, 2026: Letter from Big Wonder Founder and Director
On Monday, the public’s xenophobic outrage from an unethical YouTuber sharing unfounded accusations of fraud emboldened President Donald Trump to pledge to cut federal funds to the state of Minnesota, a move that could cause the child care sector to collapse (“Threatened child care aid freeze imperils thousands,” Jan. 2).
Child care directors, teachers and parents are panicked. I know this viscerally as the director of a child care center in St. Paul. I know how hard it is to balance the budget and make payroll. Child care is a failed market system: Parents can’t afford the true cost of care and average profits are 1% nationally. Child care is a sector already under duress, with established child care centers closing at increasing rates. The federal administration cutting $185 million of public funding would financially strain many centers beyond viability. You can expect centers to start closing as soon as February.
Closures will affect families, businesses and the economy — child care is the work behind the workforce.
Cutting funding punishes the innocent, most grievously children who are poor. The 23,000 children receiving child care assistance in Minnesota will not get the care they need and deserve. It will prevent kindergarten readiness, cause parents to become jobless and render families unhoused. The future of our state has dimmed. You can expect an increase in crime rates and a reduction in third-grade reading levels.
Cutting child care funding is a punishment that is unfair, illogical and harmful. Equally scary, I imagine Minnesota will be the first but not the last to have child care funding axed. Remember, we have their playbook. Project 2025 wants to push women out of the workforce, and what better way to achieve that than to sabotage the child care sector?
Celeste Finn, St. Paul
If you feel called to stand in support of Big Wonder and child care in our community, here are three opportunities to respond and take action:
- Contact Jered Weber-Johnson about helping manage the Kent Street lobby entrance while making Big Wonder families feel welcomed, as mentioned in last week’s email, Rector’s Letter in Response to Events in Minneapolis.
- Come to Big Wonder’s kid-friendly Love Wins Event this Saturday, January 17 from 2-4pm at St. John’s.
- Pray for families in our community with young children, for the staff of Big Wonder, and for all who are engaged in the work of justice and early childhood education. In addition to Sunday worship, you are welcome at Daily Morning Prayer online Mondays-Saturdays at 8am, Silent Prayer Hour in the Chapel on Tuesdays from 6-7pm, or Compline in the Church and on YouTube on Thursdays at 7pm. As our Day One Response states, “The work ahead of us will depend not on individual human efforts, but on disciples of Jesus, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, to follow God’s call into service.”
Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.