Early Learning Coalition to bring in national speaker to address early childhood issues

Early Learning Coalition to bring in national speaker to address early childhood issues

Our Kids: Our Business
A call to action

The Walla Walla Valley Early Learning Coalition is hosting the first annual Walla Walla Our Kids: Our Business luncheon on October 7, 2009 from Noon to 1:00pm at the Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center. Keynote speaker David Lawrence Jr. will focus on the importance of investing in children and what difference a community can make. David Lawrence Jr. retired as publisher of the Miami Herald in 1999 to work in the area of early childhood development and readiness.

He is currently president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and "University Scholar for Early Childhood Development and Readiness" at the University of Florida. In 2002 he led the campaign for the Children's Trust, a dedicated source of early intervention and prevention funding for children in Miami-Dade County.

He was also a key figure in passing a statewide constitutional amendment to provide high-quality pre-K for all 4 year olds in Florida.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. on October 7 and the Coalition is requesting a minimum $30 donation for the event. No other funds will be requested during the luncheon. Beautifully framed and matted artwork, created during the 2008 Nurturing Childrens Creativity campaign, will be available for purchase.

Please RSVP by Thursday October 1, 2009 by calling 527-4453.

All proceeds from the luncheon and sale of the artwork will go toward future Coalition activities. The mission of the Walla Walla Valley Early Learning Coalition is to support parents as their children's first teachers, improve access to high quality childcare/preschool and develop a community mobilization effort that will result in quality early learning opportunities for all young children.

For more information visit www.wwcc.edu/elc