Early Childhood Fellowship Spotlight: Marisol Torres

Q. Tell us about yourself and your current professional role. What kind of work do you do, and who do you serve?  

A. I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, and relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, in my early teens. I am of Puerto Rican descent, fluent in both Spanish and English, and deeply passionate about serving underserved communities.

Currently, I serve as the Manager of Start-Up and Operation Services at Starting Point Resource and Referral (CCR&R) and as a Child Care Licensing Specialist with Geauga County Job and Family Services. For the past 28 years at Starting Point, I have supported both prospective and current child care programs in obtaining and maintaining licensure—whether Type-B Family Child Care Homes, Type-A Homes, In-Home Aide Certifications, or Center-based Programs. My role focuses on helping child care programs not only meet compliance requirements but also grow sustainable businesses, expand capacity, and strengthen retention.

In my role as a Child Care Licensing Specialist, I monitor licensed Family Child Care providers, conduct home inspections, provide technical assistance, and guide programs in achieving Step Up to Quality ratings. Across both positions, my work centers on empowering child care professionals to thrive while ensuring families have access to safe, high-quality early learning environments.

Q. What made you want to apply for the Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship?    

A. I was honored to apply for and be accepted into the Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship through Groundwork Ohio. This opportunity allows me to strengthen my leadership skills while continuing my passion for building a stronger foundation for Ohio’s children and families. 

Q. What are you most excited to learn, gain, or take away from the Fellowship experience?                                                                                                                                    

A. Everything! I am eager to learn from the Groundwork Ohio team and Fellowship participants, gaining valuable knowledge, best practices, and leadership strategies that will strengthen my ability to advocate for children, families, and programs. I am especially excited to broaden my understanding of community action and develop innovative, strategic approaches that can drive meaningful change. Through this Fellowship, I hope to not only grow personally and professionally, but also amplify my voice and contribute to building a stronger, more equitable early childhood system across Ohio

Q. How did you first hear about or get involved with Groundwork Ohio?                    

A. I first learned about Groundwork Ohio through my colleague, Margeric Gonzalez, who participated in the Fellowship this past year. She spoke very highly of the program and shared how transformative the experience was for her both personally and professionally. Hearing her enthusiasm and the impact it had on her work inspired me to pursue this opportunity for my own growth and leadership journey.

Q. What’s one issue or challenge in the early childhood system that you’re passionate about addressing?                                                                                                  

A. One issue I am especially passionate about addressing is the lack of equitable access to high-quality early childhood programs, particularly for families in underserved communities. Too many parents face barriers such as affordability, limited availability, or language access, which prevents them from finding the care their children deserve.

At the same time, I recognize that child care programs are often on the frontlines of serving these communities, yet they face significant challenges navigating licensing, maintaining compliance, and building sustainable businesses. By supporting programs with the resources, training, and guidance they need, while also working to remove barriers for families, we can create a stronger, more equitable system where every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment.

Q. How does your lived experience shape the way you lead or advocate for young children and families?                                                                                                       

A. My lived experience as someone who grew up in a single-parent, low-income household, was enrolled in a family child care program up to the age of 13, and as a mother of four sons, has profoundly shaped the way I lead and advocate for young children and families.

I have personally experienced systems that too often fail to inspire, guide, or provide the resources needed for families to prosper and overcome challenges. These experiences fuel my commitment to ensuring that families and programs receive not only the information and support they need, but also the encouragement and empowerment to thrive. I lead with empathy, understanding, and determination because I know firsthand how transformative access to opportunity and guidance can be.

Q. What do you think is important to help make Ohio the best place to be a young child?                                                                                                                                   

A. I believe it is essential to provide accessible, informational opportunities within our communities while working together to align our efforts. By leveraging current technology, digital platforms, and social media, we can expand our reach, share resources more effectively, and ensure that families and programs have the knowledge and support they need. Creating strong connections between information, community, and innovation will help make Ohio the best place to be a young child.

Q. How do you hope to use your voice as a leader in this space—now and in the future?                                                                                                                                  

A. My hope is to use my voice as a leader by fully leveraging current platforms to share knowledge and expand opportunities across all communities. I want to grow alongside the families and child care programs I serve, while equipping them with the tools, confidence, and resources they need to be heard. Most importantly, I want to help them recognize the power of their own voices and the impact they can have in shaping a stronger future for Ohio’s children and families.