Announcement
Over the last five years, a small, unassuming house on South Avenue has become one of the most diverse and in-demand childcare providers in Missoula, Montana. Little Twigs Childcareis the culmination of years of dedication and community building, led by founder and co-owner Marmot Snetsinger.
Marmot was always drawn to diverse and international environments. She spent years living overseas in Kenya and other parts of East Africa, where she learned Swahili and pursued a career working in childcare and infant development in refugee communities. Upon returning to Missoula in 2018, she began partnering with the International Rescue Committee as a family mentor volunteer for a Congolese family that arrived in Montana. It was a perfect fit.
She never envisioned herself opening up a daycare, but through her volunteer service, Marmot noticed two critical needs for refugee women: employment and childcare. One could not be easily obtained without the other. She also recognized the importance for refugee women to be able to raise their kids in community with one another. In hopes of filling that gap, five years ago, Marmot opened Little Twigs to have a dedicated space where women could gain employment and continue raising their children. Today, she employs over 20 refugee women from more than 5 countries.
With waitlists that are two to three years long, Marmot quickly learned this was a space that Missoulians valued as well. There is a growing demand from parents for quality childcare and for their children to be surrounded by diversity.
Marmot says, “These women know so much about raising children. They are still teaching me. Not only that, but they know how to provide quality infant care in community, which is such a contrast to how we raise kids in America.”
Marmot has seen how children growing up in this environment learn how to communicate cross-culturally, value inclusivity, and cave diversity as they get older.
Due to her commitment to community building and paying a livable wage, Marmot’s almost entirely refugee staff is loyal, and she has been able to avoid one of the most common struggles of childcare: staff shortages. “The staff members who have continued to love being here for two reasons. It is a great environment for them to learn English. What’s a better way to learn a new language than teaching infants? That hands on experience with the children is invaluable. In addition, they love the community and the opportunity to be with other women from their countries and easily speak their native language.” Marmot facilitates further professional development for her staff by partnering with the Life Long Learning Center to provide English Classes once a week at Little Twigs for any staff member.
Marmot aims to center the women in her workplace by recognizing their future professional goals and playing to their strengths.
“Moving forward, I want to continue to lean into my staff’s skill set, if they want to start a restaurant, they can be in charge of the cooking here. I want to empower these women in the ways they want to be supported and empowered.”
In the future, Marmot hopes to lead more parent education classes and community events that incorporate her staff’s cultures with Missoula families, as well as provide further teacher education.
However, running a business and employing a diverse workforce is not without its challenges. Marmot explained that “most of these women never expected to work. They always thought they would be at home taking care of their kids. So one of the struggles we have faced is developing job skills: showing up on time or calling in if you are sick. Teaching them that in the US, your job is the priority is still something we are working on as an employer.” Marmot says the most important thing is to be patient, but the payoff is great.
Marmot loves watching her employees grow professionally at Little Twigs, all while being able to care for their own children throughout the day.
Photo: The IRC in Missoula
One of Marmot’s long-time staff members, a former IRC client from Eritrea, vocalized how much she appreciated Marmot being able to support her while she adjusted to the new job expectations of the US. She also enjoyed how hands on everyone is and that they are always willing to support one another. “Here we are like a family,” she said. When asked about her career goals, she told us “I love to work with the kids…maybe I can open a daycare someday.”
As a first time business owner, there have been a multitude of struggles that Marmot has had to navigate. She has been supported by her dedicated family and community members who have volunteered to fill any gaps in her skill sets. Her sister, Susan, is the bookkeeper and has helped Marmot learn the administrative mechanics of running and maintaining a business. Marmot explained, “Running a business was not something I ever saw myself doing, but with my background in teaching, therapy, and childcare, Little Twigs felt like the perfect blend of my professional experiences. Since I have opened, there have been multiple crises in childcare; COVID, losing government subsidies, and trying to maintain prices for parents."
"At least once a year, a challenge arises and I am not sure if we will make it. I continue to work and advocate because I know this place matters. It matters to the families that we serve and the women who work here.”
