Each year when the Florida Legislature is in session, Children’s Week is held to celebrate and honor the state’s commitment to children, youth and their advocates.
RCMA always participates by meeting with legislators to discuss our role in helping children be healthy, ready to learn and able to achieve their full potential.
This year, Community Relations Manager Gloria Padilla and Senior Contracts Manager Tijuanna Clemons met with State Senators Lori Berman, Keith Perry, and Tina Polsky, and State Representatives Alex Andrade, James Buchanan, Michael Gottlieb and Stan McLain.
They also spoke with Chancellor Matt Mears from the Division of Early Learning, which administers Florida’s early learning programs, including School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten, that we offer to our families.
Gloria and Tijuanna’s key messages were to raise awareness about our 65 early childhood education centers in 21 Florida counties and the needs of the families we serve. We also offered to serve as a resource to lawmakers as they tackle issues regarding early childhood education.
RCMA also joined with other early childhood education partners by providing our children’s artwork for the annual “Celebration of the Hands,” a colorful display of handprints that hangs in the Capitol Rotunda. This strong visual is a reminder that the future of our children rests in the hands of the elected officials walking by it.
