Our city relies on 7,000+ family child care providers to nurture and teach the youngest New Yorkers. For families working low-wage jobs and long or inconsistent hours, small childcare centers provide an indispensable lifeline. 93% of these businesses, which are usually in-home and serve fewer than 16 children, are owned by Black, Latinx and Asian women working an average of 57 hours a week to keep kids safe and busy. 

To give these providers a safety net of their own, Jaime-Jin founded Wiggle Room, a technology company that connects parents, caregivers, and employers. Wiggle Room brings family childcare centers onto a central marketplace platform, streamlines their business operations, and connects them with new clients. Parents can search and schedule based on voucher status, language, affordability, and location preferences.

Jaime-Jin is inspired by her mom, a legendary educator known as “Miss Donna,” and all the early childhood caregivers who help raise the next generation. Jaime-Jin started out in the restaurant industry, watching colleagues with families struggle to make ends meet. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning, she took on roles in urban planning and leadership of The Center for Racial Justice in Education. As she builds Wiggle Room, she is drawing on that background to create an accessible system that respects both working families and providers.