Katie Porter: “When my 1-year-old daughter, Betsy, went to daycare, I was worried. My family was in upheaval with a divorce, and Betsy…”

“When my 1-year-old daughter, Betsy, went to daycare, I was worried. My family was in upheaval with a divorce, and Betsy was new to childcare. But when the door opened, Betsy was scooped up in a hug. Irvine resident Nazy Shabazian provided Betsy with years of fun but firm guidance--painting, racing cars, dancing, and even snacking on Persian cucumbers. A single parent herself, Nazy inspired me by successfully running her small business and raising two terrific daughters. During the pandemic, she adjusted to new health protocols, employee changes, and different parent schedules. Today, her business, Melody Child Care, is thriving-- and so are the children in her care. Nazy is an exemplar of the compassion and resilience that childcare providers and small businesses showed during the pandemic. I am proud to honor her as my 2022 State of the Union guest. ____________________”