 |
|
5/12/2022
|
Rep. Diaz, Sen. DiMario host virtual Child Care Awareness Day
|
STATE HOUSE — Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) and Sen. Alana DiMario (D-Dist. 36, North Kingstown, Narragansett), co-chairwomen of the Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care, celebrated Child Care Awareness and Early Care and Education Advocacy Day yesterday with a virtual Zoom program.
In years past, the Child Care Day has been an opportunity for child care advocates to highlight various organizations in the state that work to improve the lives of children, youth and families. Events would begin with a Strolling Thunder march from the Rhode Island Convention Center to the State House, which mirrored the child advocacy march that took place in Washington, D.C.
This year, the child care stakeholders gathered to push for policies and funding that address the challenges faced by parents of young children during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, including the need to have adequate child care that is healthy, safe and high quality.
The event began Wednesday at 1 p.m. as Elizabeth Burke Bryant, executive director of Rhode Island Kids Count, read the names of parents and children, and the cities and towns participating in Strolling Thunder.
Khadija Lewis Khan, the director of Beautiful Beginning Child Care Center, and Marcela Betancur, director of the Latino Policy Institute, then gave a brief overview of the RIght Start agenda. Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) and Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) offered remarks.
Following this, Naiommy Barret spoke on the Early Intervention Act, Asiata Teach spoke on the Child Care is Essential Act, and Kinte Howie spoke on the Early Educator Act. Finally, Representative Diaz and Senator DiMario offered their comments to close the session.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
|
|