About Us
Our Mission
The purpose of the Bemidji Early Childhood Collaborative is to promote culturally-responsive healthy development, quality education, superior childcare, and family support for children ages birth through five in the greater Bemidji community. This vitally important work is accomplished through the power of collaboration, community outreach, and advocacy for early childhood mental health and overall well-being.
Bemidji Early Childhood Collaborative (BECC) is a non-profit organization officially established in October of 2018. BECC was formed by members of the organizations Bemidji Thrive Initiative and Bemidji Early Childhood Initiative after their dissolutions. Some of our current programs have been established for years originating from Thrive and ECI such as MAP, Gather and Grow, and the professional education conferences. BECC is comprised of over 80 professionals in the community who are passionate and dedicated to improving the lives of families with young children.
Through collaboration and innovative ideas, we are able to work together to support those who work in a variety of professional fields related to Early Childhood and positively impact families with young children in our community. Programs that are represented by BECC encourage and support relationships with parents, developmentally appropriate and positive social and emotional learning, infant and early childhood mental health, and collaboration. BECC hosts a multitude of projects and programs to bring awareness, education, and advocacy to the critically important early years and whole family, two-generational approach.
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BECC is located at 615 Anne St NW Suite B Bemidji, MN 56601.
Board of Directors
Director of BECC:
Lydia Pietruszewski. The entirety of Lydia’s professional career has revolved around the education of our local youth. After teaching elementary through high school for several years, in 2013 she began dedicating her educational and career endeavors to early childhood education, advocating for high-quality early childhood experiences, and advancing professional value and respect, specifically in childcare. Lydia is currently the Cofounder and Director of Pine Pals childcare centers in Bemidji. Learning from her own two children has been the most impactful and rewarding experience in addition to a B.S. in Life Science Education and pursuing a Master’s Degree in Special Education with an Early Childhood Emphasis. Before her hire as Director of BECC in September 2024, Lydia served on the BECC Board for 4 years.
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Board President:
Kami Kelm is a Case Manager for First Steps to Healthy Families with Beltrami County Health and Human Services. With an educational background in Applied Psychology, Health and Community Health, and Counseling Psychology, she has a passion for helping people and collaborative work. She has focused her career on working with high-risk populations in Bemidji and surrounding communities for the past 25 years. She joined the BECC Board because she believes that one of the best ways to help our community be healthy is through prevention efforts and a focus on Early Childhood years.
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Board Treasurer:
Tina Kaney is a local business owner with two little boys that keep her young. She has a diverse background in business, environmental education, and agriculture. With a B.A. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin, she is always looking for ways to connect young people with the world around them. She is excited to learn more about the EC community in Bemidji and be a part of BECC as it grows.
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Board Secretary:
Jennifer Casey is an Adult Mental Health Case Manager at Beltrami County Health and Human Services. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Psychology: Human Services with a minor in Community Health from Bemidji State University and received her Master's of Science in Disability Human Services through Minot State University. She has worked in many different areas of Mental health during her professional career. Jennifer wanted to get more involved in the community and has been given this great opportunity to serve on the Bemidji Early Childhood Collaborative Board. ​
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Board Member:
Jessica Croatt Niemi, MSSW LICSW IMH-E(IV) provides mental health and consultation services through Lake Country Associates in Bemidji MN, specializing in work with young children, their caregivers, and early childhood professionals. She has been involved with Bemidji Early Childhood Collaborative, since it's beginning as Thrive. She is an Advisory Board Member of the Minnesota Association of Children’s Mental Health- Infant and Early Childhood Division; an instructor at the University of Minnesota- Institute for Child Development; and a Supervisor of the MN Department of Human Services- Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. She holds her graduate degree from University of Wisconsin- Madison and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She holds an Endorsement as an Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor. Today’s inspiration- Do not let the perfect get in the way of the possible.
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Board Member:
Erin Echternach is a Human Resource Advisor at Sanford Health. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration from Mayville State University. She has been involved in working to advocate for new solutions to support childcare businesses since 2018 when she became pregnant with her first child and saw the severe lack of childcare options in the Bemidji area. From 2019-2021 Erin led the Bemidji Area Rural Child Care Innovation Program offering strategic guidance and direction of community generated goals surrounding the childcare disparities in the area. She was a Parent Representative appointed to the MN DHS Family Child Care Task Force in 2019-2021 where she helped to update the legislation surrounding the Special Family Child Care license to allow for non-residential childcare programs to be expanded for employers to provide childcare services to children of their employees. (This model has now been utilized/expanded by at least one additional church and one employer to date (Oct 2024)). In her current role at Sanford Health, Erin led the effort to partner with Pine Pals to open their second location in 2024 on the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center campus in a fully renovated building for Infant and Toddler care available to Sanford employees. She is excited to be able to continue to advocate for creative solutions surrounding the childcare delivery model in the area and the state to allow families to access care more easily and also attract childcare workers to the profession in the years to come.
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Board Member:
Megan Hill is a local business owner and mom to two busy kids. A lifelong curiosity of people and their interactions led to a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Master's Degree in Social Work, with a primary focus on children. Megan and her kids have enjoyed participating in BECC events, and she is excited to contribute through the board.