City Leaders Summit to Focus On Economic Benefits of Child DevelopmentNovember 4, 2005 |
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| Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will kick off the an historic event, the first-ever City Leaders Summit in Los Angeles County on Building Blocks for Cities' Economic Success: Investing in Early Childhood Development, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., November 17, 2005 at the Downtown LA Sheraton. "This is an unprecedented opportunity for elected and appointed leaders of LA County’s 88 cities to discuss how early childhood investments can yield big payoffs for their cities, as well as for the families they serve," said Mayor Villaraigosa. Other ambassadors, including West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land, San Fernando Mayor Julie Ruelas, and Pasadena Vice-Mayor Steven Madison, will also be featured at the summit. These leaders spearheading a national conversation about how cities can partner with public and private entities to invest in children and families as a way to ensure long-term economic viability of their communities. "When all levels of government share in the costs of early education and development, we will be able to make significant gains for our local and national economies, because early intervention will result in improved academic performance, reduced crime, and a more productive workforce," said LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, LA County Children’s Planning Council chair and incoming First 5 LA chair. "We, at First 5 LA, are proud to present this summit for city leaders--the first time when elected and appointed municipal leaders from throughout LA County will convene on the issue of economic development and early childhood," said Evelyn V. Martinez, First 5 LA executive director. Dozens of city leaders are expected to participate in the morning’s sessions, which will feature nationally-known experts on economic development and early childhood, Robert Lynch, chair of Economics at Washington College in Maryland and Rob Grunewald, regional economic analyst at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. The summit is hosted by the LA County Children’s Planning Council and funded by First 5 LA. Cosponsors include the National League of Cities, League of California Cities-LA County Division, the Southern California Association of Governments, United Way of Greater LA, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California, and Cities, Counties and Schools Partnership. For information, contact Chrysta Wilson at the Children’s Planning Council, (213) 974-7078 or email cwilson@laccpc.org. First 5 LA is a unique child advocacy organization created by California voters that invests tobacco tax revenues for programs to improve the lives of children prenatal through 5 in Los Angeles County. First 5 LA champions health, education and safety issues benefiting young children and families. |
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