Co-Sponsored by Kids Are Priority One Coalition and Building Bright Futures

Join parents, early childhood professionals and employers to:

• Meet with legislators about child development services and early childhood systems;
• Share family, professional and workplace stories;
• Take action at the State House; and,
• Be inspired the keynote address by Karen Ponder, past president of the North Carolina Partnership for Children.

Registration

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED AS OF TUESDAY, MARCH 9TH. Please contact Kelly Ault, ECDL Coordinator at kault1@earthlink.net or 802-272-0795 to be put on a waiting list.

Click here to download a copy of the day's agenda.

Agenda

9:00 - 9:25	Welcome and Opening Remarks (Barbara Postman, Kids Are Priority One Coalition and Representative Bill Frank)
9:25 - 10:25	Keynote Address (Karen Ponder)
10:35 - 11:35	Moving Building Bright Futures Forward: How Legislators and Advocates Can Talk About Vermont's Early Childhood System (Participants will choose one of the following work sessions) Crisp Messaging for Legislators: This skill-building session focuses on how to talk about the inherent value of a coordinated early childhood system in a way that policymakers can understand and are motivated to act on. Stories of the System: Participants will learn how to describe local experiences and accomplishments in a way that illustrates how each effort contributes to building an early childhood system. Participants are asked to bring specific examples of what they see as early childhood accomplishments. Developing an Organizing Strategy for Building Bright Futures: Participants will either discuss legislative opportunities if Building Bright Futures legislation (S.268) has not passed or discuss how to move forward if the bill has been approved by both the House and Senate.
11:45 - 12:45	Legislator Luncheon
1:00 - 1:30	Resolutions Read in the House & Senate Galleries
1:40 - 2:10	Press Conference in the Cedar Creek Room

Walk in My Shoes Storybook

Last year, participants of Early Childhood Day at the Legislature handed legislators almost 100 stories from parents, professionals and employers describing their experience with an early childhood issue they cared about. Legislators remarked on the how valuable the Walk in My Shoes Storybook was in putting "faces" on policy issues and constituents were empowered by the opportunity to share their ideas and be influential.

This year, we hope to deliver an even heftier packet to legislators. Thanks in advance for spreading the word, posting the attached flyer and taking your time to write ten sentences by Wednesday, March 10th. Any issue matters, such as:

• Is child care or health care affordable for your family or the families you work with?
• Do you have access to a quality pre-kindergarten program?
• Is your child thriving because of coordinated early intervention services?
• Are you an employer that offers paid time off so employees can recover from illness or care for a sick child?
• How important is your community playgroup or children's program?

To submit your handwritten or typed stories, photos or child's artwork (please include name, town and email):

Click here to download the Walk in My Shoes Storybook flyer. Thanks in advance for posting or circulating!

Displays

If you would like to reserve table space in the Ethan Allen room for an organizational display, you may submit payment on the registration link for $10 for a half table and $20 for a full table. Questions? Contact Heather Mattison; hmattison@vac-rutland.com or 802-241-4551.

Promotion Materials

Click here to download a newsletter template for organizational newsletters.

Click here to download the color or black and white registration flyer. Thanks in advance for posting or circulating!

Questions?

Contact Kelly Ault, ECDL Coordinator, Kids Are Priority One Coalition, 802- 272-0795 or kault1@earthlink.net