Young children & school readiness are focus of statewide summit

Richmond, VA (November 12, 2009) – More than 100 statewide professionals in early childhood development and education are gathering in Richmond today to discuss strategies and initiatives to help young children get high-quality early learning experiences in the first five years of life. Also attending are a number of business leaders,  a top-ranking military officer and executives from national organizations that specialize in early childhood advocacy.

The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and Voices for Virginia’s Children are sponsoring the Smart Beginnings Public Engagement and Advocacy Summit from 9:30-2:30 at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.

Participants are traveling from all over the Commonwealth to learn about Virginia’s progress in school readiness programs and services, as well as to hear a legislative preview prior to the 2010 General Assembly session. The Summit speakers include distinguished representatives from the military, statewide government and national advocacy organizations.

The program features presentations by:

–Kathy Glazer, Past Director, Governor’s Working Group on Early Childhood Initiatives and State Director of the Build Initiative
–Brigadier General John W. Douglass, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), Executive Advisory Council of Mission: Readiness
–Rob Dugger, Chairman, Partnership for America’s Economic Success
–Rich Neimand, Chairman/Creative Director of Neimand Collaborative, a Washington, DC-based firm that has done considerable work with Nobel Prize-winning economics professor James Heckman, architect of the Heckman Equation regarding investing early in young children to ensure a productive workforce for the future.

“This is the second annual Summit that brings Virginia’s early childhood leaders and advocates together to discuss policy and public engagement surrounding the state’s early childhood initiatives,” said John Morgan, executive director of Voices for Virginia’s Children. “We are especially honored to have General Douglass and Rich Neimand giving their unique perspectives on the impact of quality early learning for our national security and our economic prosperity.”

Scott Hippert, president of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, added, “It is critical that Virginia continue to invest in the school readiness of our young children. For our businesses to remain successful in the increasingly competitive world market, we must make certain that every young child ultimately becomes a productive worker and engaged citizen. If we give all children opportunities to thrive, we will build an economy that offers prosperity to all Virginia businesses and families.”

Prior to the Summit, a Business Leaders Breakfast was held from 7:30-8:45 am. The breakfast was hosted by Tom Chewning, Retired EVP and CFO of Dominion Resources; Rob Dugger, Chairman of the Partnership for America’s Economic Success; and Paul Hirschbiel, President of Eden Capital and chairman of the board of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.

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About the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation: The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation is a public-private partnership with a mission to provide collaborative leadership to foster Smart Beginnings for all young children in Virginia and through them a vital future for the Commonwealth. For more information, visit www.smartbeginnings.org or call (804) 358-8323.

About Voices for Virginia’s Children: Voices for Virginia’s Children is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan children’s policy research and advocacy organization that builds support for public policies to improve the lives of children. Voices administers Virginia’s Kids Count system, part of a nationwide initiative to track and improve the well-being of children. For more information, visit www.vakids.org or call (804) 649-0184.