Estefany Umbach

Estefany Umbach, MPA, is Director of Strategic Partnerships & Workforce Initiatives at DAY ONE, where she deepens community partnerships, expands workforce pathways, and supports Spanish-language TAP cohorts to help build a more inclusive and representative early childhood workforce. Her journey with DAY ONE reflects the organization’s mission in action: first joining as a board member, then as an apprentice in the inaugural TAP Cohort 1, and later becoming the organization’s first full-time Director of Community Engagement. Originally from Colombia and now rooted in the Hudson Valley, Estefany brings a background in advocacy, education, and social justice. She is a community mobilizer dedicated to creating welcoming, culturally responsive spaces where every family and partner feels seen, supported and connected.

When I was a kid

I didn’t actually play with my dolls or Barbies. I was so worried they would get dirty or messy that I kept many in their original packaging and simply lined them up in a long line to lovingly admire them.