Groundwork Ohio Announces Inaugural Family Action Network, a Powerful Statewide Coalition of Ohio Families with Young Children
Official May 18th Launch Event Will Bring Ohio Families to the Statehouse to Share Their Stories with Legislators
COLUMBUS, OH – Today, Groundwork Ohio announced the launch of its inaugural Family Action Network, a powerful and diverse statewide coalition of Ohio families with infants, toddlers, and young children who will engage with policymakers on the issues that matter most to them and their families. The Family Action Network will officially launch at an event at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
During the morning of the May 18th launch event, more than 100 members of Groundwork’s Family Action Network – including parents, grandparents, foster parents, kinship caregivers, their young children, and community partners – will gather in the Capitol Atrium to celebrate the power of their collective voices and share their stories with state legislators.
The inaugural members of Groundwork’s Family Action Network come from every region of the state – including rural, suburban, and urban areas – and represent more than 35 state house districts and more than 25 state senate districts. Forty percent of the families in the Family Action Network are families of color.
“Parents and families are the experts of their own experiences and know what their children need to thrive,” said Shannon Jones, the President and CEO of Groundwork Ohio. “Too often, however, our youngest children are not a priority in the state legislature. Groundwork Ohio is committed to investing in the leadership of families and we look forward to bringing our Family Action Network to the Statehouse to share their stories with policymakers. We want families to know: It’s your family, your story, and your Statehouse.”
During the afternoon of May 18th, Groundwork Ohio is also hosting a public Family Celebration on the Statehouse West Plaza, where hundreds of Ohio families, early childhood professionals, advocates, community leaders, and policymakers are invited to gather and show their support for Ohio families with young children. The Family Celebration will be a kid-friendly event featuring entertainment, a photobooth, special guest speakers, and more.
Members of the public can RSVP for the Family Celebration at www.groundworkohio.org/celebration.
Additional details for the Family Action Network launch event and Family Celebration will be sent in the coming weeks. Members of the press should RSVP by emailing Chelsea Kiene at ckiene@groundworkohio.org.
To learn more about Groundwork Ohio’s Family Action Network, please visit www.groundworkohio.org/familyaction
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Groundwork Ohio is a committed, nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization formed in 2004 that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age five, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families, and communities. Learn more about Groundwork Ohio at www.groundworkohio.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.