The Alliance's weekly newsletter includes policy updates, legislative news, and events related to the Alliance's Legislative Agenda. Stay informed by checking the Alliance's Facebook page. To share early childhood advocacy news with the Alliance to be included in future updates, email Sarah Galbraith at sarah@vecaa.org

Meet the Steering Committee: Member Introductions

In last week’s newsletter, we shared an overview of the role of the Alliance’s Steering Committee within our coalition of early childhood members (see the Alliance website for more information, too). In review, the Steering Committee guides the operations of the Alliance and sets the annual Legislative Agenda.

The Alliance Steering Committee includes 21 members representing the issues of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education, as well as parents and businesses. See a list of members, with their affiliations and topic assignments, below.

Faye Mack (Chair), Hunger Free Vermont, Food Security 

Judy Pransky (Vice Chair), Emerson Falls Playcare, Early Care/Early Education, Center-Based

Becca Schrader (Treasurer), Vermont Community Loan Fund, Fiscal Sponsor

Ilene Dickinson (Secretary), Self, Parents

Amanda Cochrane, Umbrella, Inc., Economic Security

Ann Dillenbeck, Self, Safety 

Ashley Moore, Main Street Alliance, Business

Diane Nichols-Fleming, Self, Early Care/Early Education, Public K-3

Ellen Drolette, Self, Early Care/Early Education, Home-based

Faye Longo, Self, Parents 

Floyd NeaseVermont Parent Child Center Network, Family Support

Holly Morehouse, Vermont Afterschool, Early Care/Early Education Afterschool

Jesse Carpenter, Vermont Food Bank, Food Security 

Katie Watts, Vermont Head Start Association, Family Support

Margaret Atkinson, Winston Prouty Center, At Large  

Michelle Fay, Voices for Vermont's Children, Economic Security

Pam McCarthy, Vermont Family Network, Health

Sarah Kenney, Let's Grow Kids, At Large 

Sonja Raymond, Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, At Large

Steve Ames, Self, Safety 

Tabitha McGlynn, Self, Health 

The Executive Committee assists the Executive Director in managing the day-to-day affairs of the Alliance, and conducts other duties as identified by the Steering Committee. Members of the Executive Committee are Faye Mack (Chair), Judy Pransky (Vice Chair), Becca Schrader (Treasurer), Ilene Dickenson (Secretary), and Steve Ames (At Large).

Visit the Alliance website for Steering Committee Meeting Minutes and our Governance Document, which details the purpose and structure of the Alliance. The Governance Document is written and updated by the Steering Committee.

 

The Alliance Structure: Backbone Support in a Collective Impact Framework

The Alliance serves as a Backbone Organization in supporting advocacy and advancing an annual early childhood legislative agenda. The Alliance staff work closely with the coalition’s leadership, which include Steering Committee members and Lead Organization representatives, on managing the organizational infrastructure that enables effective, collaborative early childhood advocacy. 

The Steering Committee guides a responsive and sustainable structure for coalition operations through governance decision-making and setting the annual Legislative Agenda. Lead organizations provide expertise on legislative and organizing strategy, especially during the Legislative session. Staff gives year-round, hands-on support inside and outside the State House, from managing the coalition’s functions to strategic planning on issue development and messaging, consultation on ever-changing strategy, and skill building directly with advocates. Specific processes throughout the year, such as the Agenda-setting process, and evaluation mechanisms, such as the Annual Membership Meeting, annually affirm the Alliance’s role as a backbone organization for Vermont’s early childhood advocacy efforts.  

One way that Alliance staff facilitate collaboration and leadership on early childhood issues is holding weekly policy phone calls of the Policy/Advocacy Committee, which is made up of staff from Lead Organizations. “[These calls] are really helpful,” said Claire Kendall, from the Family Center of Washington County, at this year’s Annual Membership Meeting. “It broadens the view and perspective from your own issue.”  

Sarah Kenney, with Let’s Grow Kids, added that this type of coordination helped elevate together all of the issues affecting early childhood. “Because of the weekly policy calls and data we had all put together, it was much easier for us to go in to the Legislature and say, ‘Yes, kids need child care and they need a roof over their head and they need food.’”

Visit the Alliance website to learn more about the Alliance’s structure and the five components of a Collective Impact framework. 

 

Invite Legislators to Your Summer Events

This week marks the official start of summer and the season is a great time to connect with your legislator about early childhood. Invite them to lunch or to your program. Introduce yourself at a local parade or community event. Thank them for their work in supporting early childhood and families in Vermont!

You can find legislator contact information here.

Alliance Members Working Together – Join Us!

Early childhood organizations, professionals, providers, parents, and employers are working together to improve the lives of Vermont's young children, families and the early childhood workforce. As members of the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, these advocates are working to advance a shared early childhood Legislative Agenda using a Collective Impact organizational framework.

The Alliance's 2019 annual membership cycle is underway – renew your membership or join as an individual, organization, or business today

Check the Alliance website to see if you or your organization is a 2019 member.

The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide coalition formed in 2000 of early childhood professionals, parents, organizations, businesses, and strategic partners committed to improving public policies that impact young children between birth and age eight in the areas of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education.

The Alliance crafts an annual Legislative Agenda in partnership with early childhood organizations, provides year-round advocacy support, and facilitates meaningful interactions with policymakers at key times during the decision making process.

RECENT NEWSLETTERS

Introducing the Alliance's Summer Intern, Advocacy Trainings, and STARS Feedback Sessions

2019 Legislative Agenda Results 

Introducing the Alliance's New Public Engagement Director

15 State Street | Montpelier , Vermont 05602

https://vecaa.org

The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund.

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