Denise Dowell
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

Denise Dowell has worked in early childhood education for over 20 years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has experience as a family child care provider, classroom teacher, center director, educator, and advocate. In 1998, Denise co-founded the United Child Care Union, which currently represents 5,000 members in Head Start centers and family-based care and the Philadelphia Area Jobs with Justice Coalition. In her current position as Coordinator of Child Care Providers Together, a project of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Denise provides support and technical assistance to AFSCME affiliates and Child Care Providers United, a new union for family child care providers in PA and CA that is jointly sponsored UCCU/AFSCME and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Denise earned her MSW at Temple University and a PhD in Social Work and Social Research at Bryn Mawr, specializing in social policy. Her research, organizing, and policy work has focused on improving the quality of work and care in early childhood education.

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