(Montpelier) – On Wednesday, April 12 at 1 p.m., children, parents, early childhood educators, business owners, and lawmakers will gather on the steps of the State House for the Courage to Care Rally to show support for ending Vermont’s child care crisis. The rally comes on the heels of the Vermont Senate’s historic passage of S.56, the 2023 Child Care Bill. The bill, which is now being considered by the House, would make child care more accessible and affordable for thousands of Vermont’s youngest children and their families, would improve program quality by increasing compensation and professional training for early childhood educators, and would overall strengthen our economy.
The rally will kick-off shortly after 1 p.m. with a special musical performance from Vermont’s own Kat Wright Trio. Then at 1:45 p.m., leaders in the state’s child care movement will provide brief remarks.
Participating in the event will be Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth, Speaker Jill Krowinski, Representative Theresa Wood, Representative Emilie Kornheiser, Brian Leffler, CEO of Instrumart, Mieko Ozeki, Cofounder of Vermont Womenpreneurs, and Dr. Rebecca Bell, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Vermont Chapter. Vermonters will also hear from early childhood educators and parents.
For more information and questions about media availability, please email Noah Futterman at [email protected].
WHO: Listed in order of appearance (subject to change):
Alyssa Campbell, CEO, Seed & Sew (emcee)
The Kat Wright Trio (special musical performance)
Su White, Teaching Director, Quarry Hill School
Caitlyn D’Onofrio, Toddler Teacher, Robin’s Nest Children’s Center
Ilia Gilligan, early childhood educator and parent
Brian Leffler, President, Instrumart
Dr. Rebecca Bell, President, American Academy of Pediatrics, Vermont Chapter
Mieko Ozeki, Cofounder, Vermont Womenpreneurs
Speaker Jill Krowinski (attendance and remarks dependent on House schedule)
Representative Theresa Wood
Representative Emilie Kornheiser
Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth
Aly Richards, CEO, Let’s Grow Kids
WHERE: State House Steps
115 State Street
Montpelier, VT
WHEN: Wednesday, April 12
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
About Vermont's Child Care Campaign
Vermont's Child Care Campaign is led by Let’s Grow Kids, a nonprofit organization on a mission to ensure affordable access to quality child care for all Vermont families by 2025. With nearly 40,000 supporters, Let’s Grow Kids, in partnership with Let’s Grow Kids Action Network, is empowering Vermonters to advocate for sustainable child care policy change. Learn more at www.letsgrowkids.org.
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