{"id":24953,"date":"2019-09-06T01:12:44","date_gmt":"2019-09-06T01:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/ftf\/?p=24953"},"modified":"2019-09-09T16:57:48","modified_gmt":"2019-09-09T16:57:48","slug":"ftf-early-childhood-summit-celebrates-advocacy-for-arizonas-young-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ftf-stg.magnetry.com\/es\/2019\/09\/ftf-early-childhood-summit-celebrates-advocacy-for-arizonas-young-children\/","title":{"rendered":"FTF Early Childhood Summit celebrates advocacy for Arizona\u2019s young children"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2019 First Things First Early Childhood Summit brought together 1,400 early childhood professionals and supporters with this year\u2019s theme of advocating for young children’s care and education on Aug. 26-27.<\/p>\n

Goodbye to a great advocate<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Past
From left to right: Elliott Hibbs, Sam Leyvas, Nadine Mathis Basha, Rhian Evans Allvin and Marilee Dal Pra.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The summit began with an overview of First Things First\u2019s history and honoring one of Arizona early childhood\u2019s biggest advocates, Nadine Mathis Basha. Basha helped write the ballot initiative that would become First Things First. She was the longest-serving Board member in FTF history. Her nine years of service included two years as the founding Board chair and then again recently serving as chair for four years.<\/p>\n

To show FTF\u2019s appreciation for Basha, the current and former FTF chief executive officers (Elliott Hibbs (2007-2010), Rhian Evans Allvin (2010-2013), Sam Leyvas (2013-2017) and Marilee Dal Pra (current CEO) told stories of Basha\u2019s involvement in the forming and sustaining of FTF. Basha also announced the creation of an Early Childhood Scholarship Fund at the Arizona Community Foundation. Donations to the fund will be used for additional Quality First scholarships, which will allow more children to access quality child care and preschool.<\/p>\n

Early Childhood Scholarship Fund<\/p>\n

Your direct financial gift will benefit young children in Arizona through funding strategies and initiatives that promote the health and development of children birth to age 5.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/p>\n

Keynote speakers inspire attendees
\n<\/strong>Kristen Grimm<\/a>, president of Spitfire Strategies, inspired summit attendees with her opening keynote speech, The Power of the Authentic Advocate<\/em> [link coming for this soon]. While many people associate advocacy with yelling at the top of their lungs for a cause, Grimm showed attendees that you can advocate in many roles, as an expert, connector, door opener or storyteller.\u00a0 Closing keynote Jonathan Mooney<\/a>, an award-winning author and activist, advocates as a storyteller to help children with learning challenges. He shared his personal story with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and not being able to read until age 12. He went on to graduate from Brown University with an English literature degree.<\/p>\n

Eddie Basha award
\n<\/strong>First Things First celebrated the work of the FTF Colorado River Indian Tribes<\/a> Regional Partnership Council by awarding them the 2019 Eddie Basha Regional Partnership Council Excellence Award for Leadership and Service for the council\u2019s significant role in implementing a Summer Transition to Kindergarten program for children who will attend kindergarten in the Parker Unified School District.<\/p>\n

Tribal Connections<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"attendees<\/a><\/p>\n

The second annual First Things First Tribal Connections event brought together more than 250 attendees on Aug. 26 at the Heard Museum to support language preservation and revitalization in tribal communities. Attendees took a self-guided tour through the museum to reflect on the importance of language and events that contributed to indigenous language loss. At the end of the tour, attendees engaged in table discussions about what individuals and communities can do to support language preservation and revitalization in tribal communities. The event was held in tandem with the United Nations naming 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages.<\/p>\n

FTF Champions celebrated
\n<\/strong>Twenty-two First Things First Champions were celebrated during the summit\u2019s closing lunch for their volunteer work in raising public awareness on the importance of early childhood development and health. Champions share information within their personal or professional networks, organize early childhood awareness activities or share at community events. Learn more about the 2019 Champions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Attendees take a public stand<\/strong><\/p>\n

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There\u2019s still time to raise your voice for AZ kids! Stop by and take a pic at the #AZFTF<\/a> booth at the #FTFSummit<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/kZfJQzNS6z<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 First Things First (@AZFTF) August 27, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n