October 30, 2012

A Test of Leadership – watch this video

This past legislative session I worked with Representative Judy Solano to introduce House Bill 12-1091. The bill reduced high stakes testing to the minimum federal requirements and re-directed the $7million dollars in savings to the Colorado Preschool Program. If you don’t think your vote counts, please watch this short video of the committee hearing. There are nearly 1,100 registered lobbyists in the state of Colorado an average representative of most states. You – parents, teachers, and grandparents – are the only voices for our children. Colorado is in position to turn over the Co House of Representatives and if we do 3,000 low-income children may get to attend preschool. Make sure you are carrying the voices of children to your government representatives during this critical election period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP7uI_cPNXQ

HB12-1091- Read the full bill here
Read the Preschool Fact Sheet
Read the Preschool Press Release

Colorado, Wyoming, Connecticut and Florida Leadership Opportunity:

For the past three years, I’ve been a facilitator for the Family Leadership Training Institute. I’ve had the privilege of working with exceptional people from diverse backgrounds. The group meets one evening a week for 20 weeks of empowerment, inspiration and connection. Childcare and meals are provided.
Colorado FAMILY LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE (FLTI)
Taking applications now at www.ColoradoFamilyLeadership.com and click on ‘Now Accepting Applications!’
Applications due November 30, 2012
Interviews scheduled in December 2012

Classes start in January 2013 in the following counties:
Adams (monolingual Spanish only), Arapahoe/Douglas, Eagle, Larimer, Mesa, Montezuma/Dolores
Denver/Aurora (near Children’s hospital)  

The Colorado Family Leadership Training Institute began in Colorado in 2009.  Applications for the Class of 2013 are now being accepted. It is time to spread the news and encourage others to apply for this excellent training opportunity for parents, family members, and other community members interested in making a difference for children, youth, and families.

Who should apply? Parents, teen parents, grandparents, other family members, young adults, foster parents, community members and others who wish to improve the lives of children and families in communities.

The FLTI curriculum is a proven curriculum that inspires trains and empowers individuals to become effective leaders and change agents on behalf of children, youth, and families. This opportunity is only offered to 25 participants in each of the participating counties. Applicants are screened and selected based on their availability and readiness. Consideration is also given to how their participation will enhance diversity, strength, and learning for the group as a whole. FLTI course is offered free of charge! In return, you commit your time and a written community project that reflects your passion.

The 20 week FLTI curriculum is based on the premise that the family is a child’s first and most important teacher. Family members are also the best advocates for children and communities. Community leaders including parents, youth, and family members, can be effective when they speak out on issues and inform policymakers, the media, and the community, about the needs of their members. FLTI offers stimulating educational sessions to boost leadership skills of participants in addressing areas of concern such as accessible child healthcare, the education achievement gap, neighborhood safety, and the significance of parental involvement. Together, class participants will emerge as strong leaders and advocates for all children and their families.

Featured Education Leader: Every Child Matters

The Pending Threat of Congressional Actions to Children’s Safety Net Programs
Since the beginning of the 112th Congress in January of 2011, members have introduced several proposals pertaining to the health, education, and safety of children. Some have become law. Others have not. They could be enacted later this year or early next year depending on other action Congress and the Administration take. The first section of this report summarizes the automatic cuts, known inside the Beltway as “sequestration,” that will become law unless Congress reverses them before the end of the year. We describe in the second section cuts the House passed earlier this year which would replace the automatic cuts in January with yet deeper cuts in children’s programs. Finally, in section three, we examine the budget the House passed in April that the Senate rejected, which would also have made deep cuts in many children’s programs. These proposed reductions are very much a possibility in the budget debates that will resume in November. They would take the country in the wrong direction. Extensive documentation shows that key investments in proven health, education, and social programs are lagging. In the face of exploding child poverty rates, Congress should be proposing investments that benefit children, not cuts, like those described below, which would harm them.
Read the full report here: