Our group with First Lady Pam Northam
Virginia Head Start Parent Ambassadors joined other ECE stakeholders in advocating for early childhood education at the State Capitol. They brought their children on a “playdate” with delegates, senators, and the First Lady of Virginia to thank them for their investments. Head Start Director Yesenia De La Cruz (TAP) also attended with families. This year the Governor and Virginia General Assembly have supported an additional $100 million to improve access to home visiting and expand public preschool to serve more 3 & 4 year-olds.
The First Lady with Tasha Wagner’s son, from The Children’s Center
First Lady Pamela Northam and Virginia’s School Chief Readiness Officer Jenna Conway enjoyed interacting with the children while many ECE advocate legislators came to talk with families: Sen. Howell, Del. Plum, Del. Brewer, Sen. McClellan, Sen. Hanger, Sen, Sutterlein, Del. Bulova (in the drum circle), Del. Kory, Sen. Mason, Sen, Petersen, Del. McQuinn and more.
Thank you to VOICES for Virginia’s Children for organizing this great event, and to Greater Richmond Smart Beginnings and their awesome RVA Basics campaign, VCU Health Child Care, Wolf Trap Institute, Reach Out and Read, Families Forward, Early Impact Virginia and more for coming to help and engage families and legislators. Head Start was happily represented in the same “sandbox” with all of the other great ECE champions in Virginia! Go VAHSA 2020 Parent Ambassadors!
Thanks to all who came to the Playdate at the Capitol. We had a beautiful day and a ton of fun playing, drumming, and learning! #ECE #homevisiting #playdateVA #VAHSAParentAmbassadors
