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BAHIA Executive Director's Quarterly Newsletter
BAHIA Quarterly Review
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Vol. 1 | Spring 2025
Jorge Lopez, Executive Director
Message from the Executive Director
Dear BAHIA Community,
It is with great pride and heartfelt gratitude that I welcome you to the very first edition of our Executive
Director’s newsletter part of our broader shift in our communications plan. As we launch this new way to
connect and reflect, we do so during a historic week for our organization.
This Thursday, April 25, 2025, marks exactly 50 years since BAHIA first opened its doors. What began
as a grassroots effort to create a culturally affirming early childhood program has grown into a multi-site,
community-rooted organization that continues to honor the vision and strength of its founders.
We have come a long way—from a small but mighty start in 1975 to becoming a trusted anchor for bilingual
early learning, family empowerment, and cultural pride. This milestone is not just a celebration of our past—it’s
a moment to recognize the resilience, dedication, and love that has carried us through each decade.
We will be having small event this Friday with Pan Dulce in the morning at VIDA and a small celebration at Sol
De Berkeley at 5:00pm. We are planning for a larger celebration in the Fall. Thank you for being part of the
BAHIA Familia. Whether you are a parent, staff member, alumni, or community ally, you are part of the
story—and the future—we are continuing to write together.
Quarterly Highlights
Updated Website– (https://www.bahiainc.com)- We’re excited for BAHIA’s newly redesigned website,
created with our families and community partners in mind. Our new look is more than just a fresh design; it’s a
reflection of who we are: a vibrant, community-rooted organization with deep cultural pride and a strong
commitment to our children and families. The new site is easier to navigate, mobile-friendly, and will be
connected to the HUBBE data management system essential for enrollment. This site is just one more way
we’re working to build stronger connections and provide the best possible experience for our BAHIA
community. Bienvenidos—and enjoy exploring!
HUBBE Data System– Preparing for HUBBE: A New Chapter in Data & Family Services
We’re excited to share that BAHIA is in the final stages of planning for our transition to the HUBBE system,
California’s centralized platform for data and family engagement in early childhood education. This move
represents a major step forward in streamlining our enrollment, attendance, and case management
processes—making it easier for families to access services and for our team to better support every child.
Recently the State of California announced its plan to require all state contracted programs to We anticipate
being fully onboard with HUBBE by July and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for both staff and
families. Thank you for your continued trust as we modernize our systems to better serve our community.
Facility Improvements
As we celebrate 50 years of BAHIA, we are also investing in the future by improving the spaces where our
children learn, play, and grow. Over the past few months, we’ve made several much-needed facility
upgrades—including a brand-new floor, a newly built office, and a full roof replacement at our VIDA site. In
addition, we’ve been addressing long-overdue repairs and maintenance to ensure our facilities are safe,
welcoming, and functional for our staff and families.
This is only the beginning. We’re excited to share that more improvements are on the way, including new tarps
for our outdoor areas at Sol de Berkeley and a refreshed garden space for our children to enjoy and learn from.
Because our programs operate during the week, most of this work is being done on weekends—making the
timeline a bit more complex. We deeply appreciate the flexibility and understanding shown by our teachers,
staff, families, and especially our little ones as we navigate construction schedules and continue to prioritize
safety and continuity of care.
Thank you for your patience and support as we work to create the beautiful, nurturing environments our
community deserves.
Behind the Scenes
Adapting to Change: Strengthening BAHIA for the Future
As state authorizers shift in the post-COVID world and funding structures evolve—particularly within our CCTR
and CSPP contracts—BAHIA is taking proactive steps to adapt. These changes impact not only our budget and
compliance requirements but also reflect broader shifts in early childhood education, including expanded public-
school enrollment for younger children and the move toward state-aligned, computer-based data systems.
To ensure we continue delivering high-quality care and remain aligned with evolving state expectations , we are, together with our board of directors, engaged in a comprehensive review of our organizational structure. This
includes aligning instructional and administrative roles more strategically, refining our enrollment and eligibility
systems, and making adjustments that will strengthen our long-term sustainability.
We are grateful to our dedicated team for their continued flexibility, collaboration, and commitment during this
period of transformation. As always, our priority remains supporting children and families while building a
stronger, more responsive BAHIA for the future.
Appreciation!!
Thank you to our incredible staff, families, board members, and community partners for your continued
support. Together, we are building a BAHIA that reflects the hopes and dreams of our children and families.
Warmly,
Jorge Lopez
Executive Director
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