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Northgate Children’s Center updates board on Fishtown preschool enrollment, curriculum and climate resiliency work
Summary
Northgate Children’s Center reported serving about 535 low‑income children across 14 locations, licensing capacity of 81 at Fitch Mountain campus (55 preschoolers, 11 toddlers), and highlighted the Garden of Eden nutrition curriculum and climate resilience adaptations for early care.
Susan Gilmore, founder, president and CEO of Northgate Children's Center, updated trustees on the Fishtown preschool program and broader organizational work in Sonoma County. The organization serves multiple districts, provides nutrition education through a licensed "Garden of Eden" curriculum, and operates programming across 14 locations with about 535 children served under contract funding.
Gilmore described the Fitch Mountain campus: licensing capacity of 81 students, current enrollment of 55 preschoolers and 11 toddlers, and a growing toddler program supported by grant funds. She explained that the program serves primarily families that qualify for state contract funding and that around 10 percent of enrolled children have exceptional needs. The presentation highlighted social‑emotional learning, trauma‑informed practices and on‑site mental health coaching for staff.
The center also reported climate‑resilience planning for early care — updating playground designs, adopting policies to reduce closures during poor air quality events and presenting to national early‑years climate groups. The presenter said the organization licensed its curriculum and is producing training modules to be shared with other programs. Trustees praised the inclusive preschool model and community partnerships supporting the program.
