By: Lysette Arnold, Policy Assistant at Groundwork Ohio
Groundwork Ohio is excited to bring together members of our Family Action Network – a powerful and diverse coalition of Ohio families with young children from across the state – at the Ohio Statehouse on May 18th, 2022. At the event, Family Ambassadors, including parents, grandparents, foster parents, and kinship caregivers, will meet with their state policymakers to share their stories and build relationships.
In preparation for the event, Groundwork Ohio has paired each of our Family Ambassadors with someone involved in a local community organization to help families navigate the Statehouse and prepare to share their stories with policymakers. These Community Ambassadors have many shared experiences with our families, but they are coming alongside Family Ambassadors to provide support to them through this journey at the Statehouse and in their communities.
During the early stages of building our Family Action Network, we asked our Family Ambassadors, “What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of your family?” Their heartwarming responses were covered in my most recent blog post: Love, Blessed, Resilient: Getting to Know Ohio Families with Young Children.
We also asked our Community Ambassadors, “What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of your community?” The similarities between our Family and Community Ambassadors is very telling of the experiences many Ohioans share.
Similar to the Family Ambassadors, words like “Love” and “Resilient” were two of the most common words that came to Community Ambassadors' minds. Both Family and Community Ambassadors can agree that they and their communities have the resilience to overcome challenges. The love shared in the communities and among families is undeniable, as seen by the responses we collected.
We would like to express our appreciation for our community partners for their support and enthusiasm toward our Family Action Network! We can’t wait to meet you at the Ohio Statehouse to assist you in guiding Ohio families through this exciting process.
You’re invited to join members of the Family Action Network at the Ohio Statehouse on May 18th at 12:30 PM! Join early childhood professionals, community leaders, policymakers, and Ohio families at Groundwork Ohio’s Family Celebration. There will be kid-friendly entertainment, activities, popsicles, special guest speakers, and more! Learn more and RSVP: www.groundworkohio.org/celebration.
To learn more about Groundwork Ohio’s Family Action Network at www.groundworkohio.org/familyaction.