News release
Moms and Legislators Join Young Children at the U.S. Capitol to Play with Huge ABC Blocks, Spelling Out Importance of Early Learning
September 16, 2014
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
Message to legislators: Affordable, high-quality early learning opportunities prepare our children for kindergarten success and boost our economy
On Wednesday, September 17, members from MomsRising.org, the National Women’s Law Center and the Strong Start Campaign for Children, along with legislators and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will join in the fun with dozens of preschool children to play with two-foot tall alphabet blocks and highlight the value of high-quality, affordable child care and early learning opportunities.
9:45 AM until 11:00 AM, Wednesday, September 17
First Street N.E. @ Constitution Ave N.E.
Washington, DC
Attending:
Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Representative Donna Edwards (D-MD)
Representative George Miller (D-CA)
Representative Jared Polis (D-CO)
Representative Deborah Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL)
And other invited legislators
Children’s entertainer The Great Zucchini
More than 75 moms and children playing with giant alphabet blocks
(Schedule of speakers and events at end of release)
Legislators and advocates, including MomsRising.org Executive Director/CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner and NWLC Director of Child Care and Early Learning Helen Blank, will provide brief remarks about the urgency of supporting early learning programs. Seventy-five or more children, many wearing construction worker hard hats, will play with the legislators to make buildings out of giant blocks.
Following the lawn event, advocates will deliver individual alphabet blocks to U.S. Senate offices, with compelling stories from parents, teachers and business leaders about the critical role early learning plays in strengthening children’s skills and knowledge to prepare them for school and life.
“Building a strong start in life for our children begins with early learning,” says Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director/CEO at MomsRising.org. “America is just waking up to the fact that women make up nearly half of the labor force and their share in recent years is historically high. Now it’s time to bring our public policies up to modern realities. Parents need safe, enriching places for children to be while they work, and children need access to affordable, high-quality early learning opportunities in order to thrive; both of which boost our economy.”
“Research shows that high-quality child care and preschool are critical building blocks for our children’s success in school and in life,” says Helen Blank, NWLC Director of Child Care and Early Learning. “They increase children’s knowledge and social skills and form the cornerstone for their futures. But unfortunately millions of families are struggling to get affordable, high-quality early learning opportunities for their children. It’s time to increase support for early learning so that our children, our communities and our economy will reap the benefits.”
EXPECTED SCHEDULE
Children will play with the giant blocks throughout the event in front of the U.S. Capitol, along with moms and participating legislators.
9:45 A.M.-10:15 A.M.
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, MomsRising
Helen Blank, NWLC
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Rep. Katherine Clark (MA)
Rep Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
10:15 A.M.-11:00 A.M.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Representative Jared Polis (D-CO)
Representative Deborah Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL)
Speaking times are approximate, as are speaking orders within time slots. Please call for specifics if needed.
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The National Women's Law Center is a non-profit organization that has been working since 1972 to advance and protect women's equality and opportunity. The Center focuses on major policy areas of importance to women and their families including economic security, education, employment and health, with special attention given to the concerns of low-income women. For more information on the Center, visit: www.nwlc.org.
The Strong Start for Children Campaign is an ever-expanding, diverse effort of national, state, and local groups united in support of increased federal early childhood investments and the President’s Preschool Proposal, which would expand access to high-quality early learning opportunities for low-and moderate-income children and families. The Campaign has three goals: increase public awareness about the importance of the early years to a child’s success in school and in life, build support among public officials for greater investments in early learning, and expand the voices of support for young children and their families.
Media Note: For more information, please contact Kim Hayes, MomsRising, (202) 371-1999 or kim@prsolutionsdc.com.