Kamye Hugley and Beverley Waithaka

Author Bio

Kamye Hugley is a former classroom educator, nonprofit leader, and self-described “auntie extraordinaire” to three nephews and twin nieces. She is also a Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project in partnership with the National Black Child Development Institute.

Beverley Waithaka is a Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project in partnership with the National Black Child Development Institute and an auntie to one nephew. She writes about the intersections of public health, beauty, digital culture, and the impacts on early childhood.

July 29, 2026

"It Takes a Village" is no longer a proverb, it’s survival

While every child needs loving parents, children also need aunties, uncles, and a host of other adults who are invested in their success to thrive. As childcare costs soar, aunties like us are becoming indispensable….

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