We’re excited to welcome Michelle Yamamoto (she/her) as the newest Child Care Organizer on the APANO Action Fund team. We sat down with Michelle for a short Q&A to help you get to know her and what inspires her work.
First things first, where did you grow up?
I grew up primarily in Portland, Oregon.
If you had 3 words to describe Portland, what would it be?
Green, creative, and local.
How did you find yourself in child care work and this role?
I’ve had a lot of different random roles that led me here. I have worked with kids for years. More recently, I was volunteering with a play therapy after-school program in DC. I also did a lot of psychology research in college that pertains to children, particularly BIPOC and marginalized students, and how giving wrap-around resources helps us grow.
I’ve known for a while that I liked working with and supporting kids – so I’m excited to be in these child care spaces through APANO, and to merge these support spaces with child care advocacy work.
What’s a typical day for you at APANO?
A typical day involves… a lot of reading. I’m usually checking up on any child care news in Oregon. With the short legislative session coming up, a lot is happening around the ERDC (Employment Related Day Care) and other programs. I’m usually in a meeting or two with the different coalitions, child care groups, and organizations that we work with. Basically, my day is usually a mix of reading up on the stats of child care, going into meetings to talk about those stats on child care, and then putting together one-pagers and preparing to talk with legislators about the services we need to protect.
Any big lessons you’ve learned from this role so far?
Honestly, the thing that’s been most impactful for me is talking directly with parents and caregivers. Our staff member, Janet, has connected me with different providers across Oregon, and it’s been really impactful to see how child care funding directly affects people on a day-to-day basis. It means a lot to hear these stories from the people around me.
Do you have any fun memories related to child care in Oregon?
Yeah! I grew up babysitting my neighbors a lot. And they loved to dance, especially the youngest one. I remember he was obsessed with the movie “Descendants” when it came out, and we’d dance to all of the soundtracks. So now, I know every single song from that movie. I also found out his parents enrolled him in the dance studio that I used to go to as a kid! So they’re doing full-on performances now, which is really sweet.
If you had a free afternoon with no responsibilities, how would you spend it?
I would probably play with my cat, Kumo, and then go rock climbing. And maybe get a coffee or a matcha afterwards!
What’s your favorite family-friendly activity to do in Oregon?
I know it’s basic, but I love the Rose Garden! I have so many fond memories of being there as a kid, and there’s so much to do in Washington Park. It’s a perfect place to just walk around, see the zoo nearby, or even have a little picnic and catch a music festival.
Do you have a mentor or favorite caregiver in your life to shout out?
My mom! I am really lucky because my mom was a stay-at-home parent for a portion of my life. We are really close, and she’s taught me basically everything that I know. I have so much love and respect for our parents and mothers.
Advice for your younger self?
Be more confident. I think I was pretty shy as a kid, but now I feel like I’ve been able to put myself out there more. I want to know that even if it feels silly or weird, it’s okay to speak out and talk more.
Advice for your older self?
Keep rock climbing. I really want to be one of those older Asian ladies who are still on the rock wall. I’m yonsei (fourth-generation) Japanese, and whenever I go to Japan, I always see aunties who can do everything, and that’s how I want to be. I want to become one of the unstoppable grandmas.
We’re so excited to have Michelle join our team at APANO AF. Come connect with Michelle at our upcoming events and explore future advocacy opportunities. Together, we can keep our communities engaged and take action for stronger, equitable child care across Oregon.
