The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization created to strengthen and expand the impact of ECIC’s work on behalf of young children and their families. Designed to complement ECIC’s role in building and improving Michigan’s early childhood system, the Foundation provides a philanthropic and advocacy-focused vehicle to advance shared goals in ways that public structures alone cannot.
The ECIC Foundation will focus on initiatives that align with ECIC’s mission and advance a strong, equitable early childhood system, while working to diversify funding, deepen partnerships, and increase impact. By engaging private philanthropy, corporate partners, and individual supporters, the Foundation will help catalyze innovation, respond to emerging needs, and invest in long-term systems change that supports Michigan children and families.
The ECIC Foundation is hosting its inaugural First Steps, Bright Futures fundraiser on Wednesday, September 16 in Lansing to expand the impact of ECIC’s work in the early childhood space and unlock new opportunities for innovation and advocacy on behalf of young children.
Investing in the ECIC Foundation means investing in the people, partnerships, and innovations that will transform Michigan’s early childhood system for generations to come.
Your gift today helps build the foundation that Michigan’s youngest children deserve.
The ECIC Foundation is being built with partnerships throughout Michigan’s early childhood system, with young children and their families at its center. The system, as it stands today, is siloed between government, education, community, care, and families. To support ECIC’s role in convening and collaborating with all system players, the ECIC Foundation can work alongside funders, supporters, and investors to shape priorities and increase impact.
By working together, the Foundation, ECIC, and their partners can leverage both public and private resources to create lasting change for children, families, and communities.
Together, we can do more — and deepen our impact — for all Michigan children and families.
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ECIC Foundation Board of Directors
Ashanti Bryant
Chair
Ja’Nel L. Jamerson
Treasurer
Kristi Krafft-Bellsky
Secretary
Kevin Stotts
Vice Chair
Irene Watts
Ex Officio
Alicia Guevara
Ashanti Bryant
A native of Detroit and a first-generation college graduate, Ashanti Bryant’s journey in education began as the eldest brother caregiving for his younger siblings and cousins while his single mother and aunts balanced work and life demands. Formally, the journey continued in the classroom as a preschool teacher, nurturing two- and three-year-olds. These early years were foundational, exposing him to the stark racial disparities within early education and sparking a lifelong commitment to systemic change. To fuel this mission, he was privileged to receive opportunities and scholarships that helped him build a robust academic foundation, earning a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.S.W. in Policy, Planning, and Administration from Western Michigan University, complemented by a Certificate in Educational Administration from National-Louis University.
Throughout his career, Ashanti has worn many hats—from school principal and counselor to adjunct instructor and consultant—spanning social service nonprofits, public, private, and charter schools. As Education Director at AmplifyGR in Grand Rapids, he spearheaded strategies to bridge the access gap for Pre-K–12 students in under-resourced neighborhoods on the southeast side, ensuring that every child has a path to success regardless of their zip code. His leadership reached new heights at IFF, where he served as Director of Early Childhood Services, managing complex community initiatives that blended finance, real estate, data analyses and advocacy in communities throughout Michigan and across the Midwest.
Today, Ashanti serves as a Senior Program Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this role, he leverages his extensive background to cultivate equitable communities where children thrive and families are supported. A certified leadership and executive coach, he is dedicated to empowering the next generation of changemakers in every sector. Outside of his professional life, Ashanti is a devoted husband to a fellow educator and a father of three. He finds balance and joy in the arts—be it through poetry, dancing, or his love of comedy—and remains an avid reader and traveler.
Ja’Nel L. Jamerson is the Vice President of Policy & P20 Partnerships at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. An ardent advocate for holistic family engagement, Mr. Jamerson seeks to disrupt intergenerational cycles of poverty through the development and implementation of programs, partnerships, and policies that honor the interdependence between the success of children and the well-being of their parents. He holds a Master of Arts in Secondary Urban Education and an Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Michigan-Flint.
Kristi Krafft-Bellsky, of Frankenmuth, is a principal and quality control director at Yeo & Yeo, CPAs and Advisors. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Science in Accountancy from Western Michigan University and is a licensed CPA in Michigan.
Kevin Stotts, of Ada, is the president of Talent First and a member of the Children’s Leadership Council of Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Michigan State University.
Irene Watts is a longtime champion for children, families, and equitable educational systems, bringing more than 20 years of experience across early childhood education, community advocacy, and statewide policy leadership. She currently serves as the CEO of Watts Advisory Group, a boutique consultancy specializing in strategic planning, nonprofit capacity-building, and education-sector innovation. In this role, Irene advises organizations, school districts, and mission-driven companies on scaling impact, strengthening partnerships, and designing community-centered solutions.
Irene also serves as the Academic Strategy Officer at TripSlip, where she leads national partnerships, academic strategy, and policy alignment for one of the country’s fastest-growing education technology platforms supporting experiential learning and student engagement.
Her career began in the classroom as a preschool teacher and administrator where she developed a deep understanding of the supports families and educators need to thrive. She later expanded her impact through public service as a school board and higher education trustee, shaping districtwide policy and governance, and through statewide leadership as Chair of ECIC, helping advance Michigan’s early childhood infrastructure and champion equitable access for all types of learners.
A proud Michigander, University of Michigan alumna, marathon runner, and member of President Obama’s inaugural Change Collective, Irene brings a values-driven approach to every role she takes on.
Alicia Guevara currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation and President of the ECIC Foundation. Ms. Guevara joined ECIC in June 2020 as the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy and filled the role of Senior Director of Equity and Leadership before becoming CEO. Ms. Guevara brings nearly 18 years of extensive experience advocating for equitable outcomes and opportunities on behalf of children and families. Under her leadership at ECIC, Think Babies Michigan was created and has a strong coalition of 3,000 members across the state. Additionally, Ms. Guevara led the launch of the National Center for Family and Parent Leadership, which is sharing capacity with early childhood leaders across the country to embed and center family voices in systems change efforts.
Prior to her arrival at ECIC, Ms. Guevara served as the director of the Kinship Care Resource Center at the Michigan State University School of Social Work , the Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) as the director of the Kids Count project, Democratic Central Staff for the Michigan House of Representatives. She is also a proud Class 11 fellow with the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Children and Families Fellowship program.
Ms. Guevara earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Michigan and Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
