Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Lubin
Hi Rachael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Our story begins in 2016 when several nannies working for families in the West University area started regularly meeting up for play-dates, children’s parties (celebrating birthdays and holidays), and to chat about how to better connect and educate nannies around the city. It is said that “nannies do the work that makes all other work possible”, meaning nannies and child-care providers allow working parents the ability to go to work knowing their children are well taken care of. Unfortunately, domestic workers are allowed few protections under employment and labor laws, and often work in the shadows of society, making them vulnerable to abuse. Nannies often don’t know, for example, that they are being underpaid and overworked, until another nanny comes in and tells them the protections and industry standards available to them.
It was with all this mind that the little playgroup from West U became HTX Nannies – Houston’s Leading Nanny Support group – in 2022, under the leadership of Rachael L. Lubin, Keiwanna “Keke” Roberson, and Mariana Valdez.
Since it’s official launch during National Nanny Recognition Week in September 2022, HTX Nannies has grown it’s presence into an internationally recognized nanny support group, encouraging other nanny support groups to pop-up around the United States and abroad. In 2023, HTX Nannies was recognized as an education-based non-profit through the State of Texas, showing the world that all monies donated to the organization will always be put back into nanny education and community building. That same year, the office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo gave an official Proclamation to the nannies of Harris County (at the leadership of HTX Nannies) recognizing International Nanny Recognition Week the third week of September. HTX Nannies has hosted the local outpost of International Nanny Training Day in 2023 and 2024, and will continue this effort in 2025. INNTD is an international day in April where communities around the world host a dedicated nanny training event, so that nannies may return to work better educated and equipped to serve children and families. HTX has also continued their original traditions of hosting children’s events like: Art in the Park (where children do art projects in local parks) and holiday parties to introduce children to known and other cultures. We have introduced events like: the Houston Monthly Nanny Breakfast Meet-Up, where nannies (and their charges) meet up for breakfast the 2nd Tuesday of each month to check-in with each other, offer support and advice, and communicate new job offerings we’ve heard and seen.
HTX Nannies is typically only funded once per year by sponsors of the INNTD event, and we use some leftover funds help to purchase art and party supplies as needed. Though we are always open to donations of support!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nannies are by and large women; mostly women of color, often undocumented, sometimes don’t have a professional level of English fluency, and scared. They worry that at any moment they could be fired (as working in someone’s home is an often emotional and psychological maze – especially as more employers themselves are working from home); they worry that they won’t be able to find their next position if for any reason their employer won’t give them a glowing reference; and they worry about the children they care for (Are the parents and nanny on the same page regarding the children’s needs?).
Working with such a vulnerable population, means the Leadership Team of HTX Nannies needs to make decisions with incredible empathy, continue their own education on labor regulations, and make sure that the nannies in and around Houston see themselves represented by those with decision making power.
Being on such a team, the three local leaders of HTX Nannies have needed to dig deep within themselves to find our own “why”. Why do this volunteer work? Why continue to try to host events even when sometimes attendance numbers are low? Why reach out to (stranger) nannies online who seem like they may need someone to support them? Why do all of this physical, mental, and emotional labor for free? Ultimately, we love the people who do this work – the most important work. We are uplifted by nanny agencies who acknowledge and support us, and by nannies who have been able to get better jobs due to their involvement in our little non-profit.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As one of HTX Nannies leaders, I (Rachael L. Lubin) have been seeking out nanny-related education and volunteer opportunities since I began this work. After graduating from college with a Bachelor’s degree in Geography, I spent a year working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas as a recruitment specialist, finding adults who wanted to be volunteer “Bigs” to children who needed in-person role models. I then spent a year-and-a-half teaching English in China, hoping to make a difference and have a big quarter-life adventure (and it was a grand adventure!). I returned to the US to attend the English Nanny and Governess School (now closed) to study childcare, and to get the best start for my nannying career. I joined the Board of Directors of the International Nanny Association in 2017, just 5 years into my professional nanny career, where I served the largest nanny membership organization in the world for 4 years, doing things like planning the annual conference, and speaking at nanny events. In April of 2020, just weeks into the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdowns, myself and other nanny industry professionals started Nanny Relief Fund, a 501c3 non-profit that gives tangible support to nannies in need. We’ve since raised and given back over $120,000 to nannies experiencing great financial hardship (originally due to the pandemic, but continued on for nannies experiencing job loss, personal loss, natural disasters, medical needs, domestic abuse, and more).
I currently enjoying studying nanny wages around the United States and have presented on Nanny Wages and Nanny Industry Standard Benefits at both the Nannypalooza conference and the International Nanny Association conference. This year, with the support of HTX Nannies, I also conducted Houston’s largest nanny wage study, where I collected and analyzed data from nannies across Harris county.
Houston Nanny Wage Survey:: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGIck_Kt3Y/Yz75Anidi70ci7gYKldvNA/view?utm_content=DAGIck_Kt3Y&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor
All of this in addition to a 40-50 hour workweek with the local Houston family I have been a nanny to since 2018!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
It’s important to note that all of the HTX Nannies events happen because three women who work full-time (often more than full-time hours), make the time to create these opportunities for Houston nannies. We love any person, group, business, or network who wants to help us further our mission of educating nannies and creating community. We are always looking for spaces that we can hold events at (for as cheaply as possible), and always looking for donations. Donations don’t just mean financial ones. We’ve been treated to lunch by local nanny agencies (including The Nanny League), we’ve had free tickets donated from museums/attractions that nannies and the children they care for can attend (like Dig World TX), we’ve had a local artisan donate a few things we can giveaway at events, we’ve had a local T-shirt maker give us a steep discount on getting custom shirts made (Trece 13 Creative), and a local photographer even treated us to a head-shot session so nannies can put their best foot forward (Abba Color Photography). Every little thing adds up, and every little thing is meaningful.
One of the most important things our city can do for us is to pay their help appropriately, and treat them well. The people caring for your children, pets, homes, cars, and other important things, should be compensated and respected at the highest level.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/htxnannies/
Image Credits
All the professional looking studio photos are from Abba Color Photography
