Weekly Digest: April 23, 2009

Community Spotlight: Children First Norwich Partners with Local Chamber and Workforce Investment Board

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored a breakfast event in March called "Today's Peanut Butter & Jelly will be Tomorrow's Bread & Butter."  The event spotlighted the Chamber's partnership with Children First Norwich/School Readiness Council and the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board to keep young people in Eastern Connecticut and increase wages.  High achieving students (representing all school levels), and their parents and teachers were honored for their hard work and involvement in their schools and community.

A slide show presented by the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board offered a somber employment and workforce picture, and emphasized the need to develop talent and create lifelong learners with skills and knowledge that can fuel the economy of the region. 

The Mayor of Norwich, Ben Lathrop, City Manager Alan Bergren and Alderman Mark Bettencourt attended the event and the Mayor called the presentation "powerful" according to the Norwich Bulletin.

To read the full article, visit the Norwich Bulletin website at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/archive/x1984812529/Chamber-fostering-youth-centered-alliance

No Joke: Matching Funds Available if State Antes Up

Author: Jessica Ciparelli, Communications Specialist, CT Early Childhood Alliance

When does $1.5 million state-funded investment dollars equate to $3.2 million? When it is combined with $1.7 million of private funding. And this is no April Fool's joke.

At the Legislative Office Building on April 1, close to 100 people, including legislators, parents and philanthropic leaders gathered to hear the announcement of a challenge to the state: Come up with $1.5 million to invest in building community plans for early childhood, increasing parent leadership (through programs such as the Connecticut Parent Trust Fund's Parent Leadership Training Institute, or “PLTI”), and improving early literacy, then private funders and foundations, including the William Casper Graustein Memorial Fund, will fund the remaining $1.7 million.

“Foundations are ready to invest,” said WCGMF Executive Director David Nee. “I really hope this offer is appropriately [accepted].”

It's not a huge sum of money to invest on either side, however, the testament to the product is measurable. The room was filled with parent leaders, many of whom have completed, or are in the process of completing, PLTI. Some of those parents shared stories that put them on the path of parental engagement for the future of their children. Parent groups and advocates from East Hartford, West Hartford, Torrington, New Britain, Norwich, Norwalk, Manchester, Danbury, Windham, Windsor, Bridgeport, Stamford, Meriden, Middletown and Colchester were all present to show their support of the matching funds and the opportunity to continue investments in early learning and parent leadership programming. Both make good economic and social sense for Connecticut's children, especially in tough times.

To read this article in its entirety, visit the Early Childhood Alliance website at http://www.earlychildhoodalliance.com/node/4559

CT Parent Power Meet and Greet

Are you interested in learning more about CT Parent Power? Do you have questions about what it would mean to get involved? Want to talk to other parents about their experience?

CT Parent Power is hosting a Meet and Greet on Wednesday, April 29th from 5pm-8pm. The meeting will be held at the Meriden Public Library--105 Miller Street, Meriden, CT in the Friends Room.  There will be opportunities to learn more about the organization and talk to parents who have gotten involved. 

To RSVP, visit the CT Parent Power website at  http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/38/t/6530/event/index.jsp?event_KEY=49096