denise dowell

Denise (she/her) was born and raised on Long Beach Island, NJ. She moved to Philadelphia to attend Temple University’s Graduate School of Social Work and Administration. Following the birth of her first child, Denise launched a career in Early Childhood Education that started with classroom teaching, specializing in music and movement. She served as a director of child care, school age, and parent education programs for more than 10 years before working full time as an advocate for affordable quality child care for all families and quality jobs for the child care workforce. Denise earned a PhD in Social Work and Social Research from Bryn Mawr and spent 20 years working with early childhood educators and working families in PA, CA, OR, NY and Washington, DC before retiring.

Denise is excited to get back to her roots working directly with children in a program that supports and nurtures creativity through art, music, and playing out loud in the community she has called home since 2003. When not enjoying walks and delicious meals with friends in Philly, she enjoys hanging out with her grown-up children, grandchildren and all their pets.