Columbus, Ohio: Groundwork Ohio today announced the participation of Ohio legislative leaders and LeeAnne Cornyn, Director of the Governor’s Office of Children’s Initiatives, in the upcoming Laying the Groundwork: Early Childhood Awareness and Education Summit on May 8, 2019 at the Athletic Club of Columbus. Ohio Senate participation includes Majority Whip, Senator Jay Hottinger (R-Newark), as well as Minority Leader, Senator Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights). Ohio House participation includes Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee Chair, Representative Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario) and Minority Leader, Representative Emilia Sykes (D-Akron).
Groundwork Ohio’s Laying the Groundwork Summit will convene nearly 300 early childhood leaders from across the state to bring awareness to the importance of investments in early childhood education, especially evidence-based home visiting, high-quality child care and preschool. Participants will have the opportunity to meet directly with legislators to ask that they support investments in quality early education during the upcoming FY 20-21 budget.
The esteemed bipartisan panel of policymakers joins Myra Jones-Taylor, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE, the national leader on infant-toddler policy and program development, and David Melin, Dayton Regional President of PNC Bank, on a robust agenda curated to inform and mobilize early childhood stakeholders from across the state.
Director Cornyn will share remarks on the importance of creating quality early childhood opportunities as her office advances Governor DeWine’s “Opportunity for Every Ohio Kid” agenda. Legislative leadership will engage in a facilitated panel discussion that reflects the diverse needs of young children across the state and provides sound wisdom for advocates looking to advance budget deliberations on increased investments to meet these needs. Each policymaker brings a wealth of knowledge and unique point of view that supports quality early childhood education programs for Ohio’s youngest, most vulnerable children.
If you would like to participate in this event, please visit www.GroundworkOhio.org/summit. Registration for the event remains open through Friday, May 3, 2019.
Groundwork Ohio is a committed, nonpartisan advocacy organization formed in 2004 that advances quality early learning and development as the most transformative strategy to improve school outcomes, increase the life-long success of Ohio’s children, and lay a strong foundation for economic prosperity in the state of Ohio. To learn more about Groundwork Ohio visit www.GroundworkOhio.org and follow us on Twitter @GroundworkOhio and Facebook, www.facebook.com/GroundworkOhio.