Community Conversation Funded for Second Year

For the second year in a row, the East Haddam Early Childhood Council has been awarded a grant to facilitate a community conversation. This initiative brings together a diverse group of townspeople to discuss concerns regarding young children and their families.

According to Cindy Praisner, Early Childhood coordinator, this year's community conversation will "build on the positive outcomes from last year's work."

Through last year's conversation, participants helped establish a family resource center located at the East Haddam Elementary School. It offers a variety of programs for young children and their families.

Additionally, through concerns raised at the conversation, volunteers came forward to work with the East Haddam Parks and Recreation to build a new playground for young children at Nichols Field. A communications team was also formed to create the East Haddam Family Resource Guide, a local resource directory for young families in town.

Another outcome of last year's conversation was the creation of a summer reading program for very young children in conjunction with East Haddam Free Public Library.

Praisner feels that the benefits of last year's event led to "a greater community understanding of the needs and desires of young families in East Haddam" and through this year's conversation, "we can continue to build awareness of the importance of the first five years of life."

The grant will pay for the food, invitations and supplies. Community mediations will also provide technical assistance to the Early Childhood Council for planning and structuring the conversation as part of the grant award.

In an effort to ensure that the conversation will have representation from all segments of the population, paper invitations are mailed to many key stakeholders in town. All members of the community, however, are invited to participate and "explore the connections of young children to the vitality of our entire community."

The conversation will take place March 10 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School. Dinner will be provided. On-site childcare and transportation is available.

Contact Praisner at (860) 873-3296 or e-mail cpraisner@prodigy.net to participate.

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