Los Angeles – First 5 LA announced today that Vice President of Policy & Strategy Kim Pattillo Brownson has been appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as a member of the State’s Early Childhood Policy Council (ECPC). In this volunteer role, Pattillo Brownson will help advise the Governor, State Legislature and State Superintendent for Public Instruction on policies and practices affecting young children and their families. The ECPC also will have a key role in helping shape Governor Newsom’s forthcoming Master Plan for Early Learning and Care.
“What we do today for young children and their families will pave the way for our state’s future success,” said Pattillo Brownson, who also serves as a volunteer member of the California State Board of Education. “I am honored to be named by the Governor to this post where I can support the Governor, Legislative leaders and State Superintendent of Public Instruction to make the best and most equitable decisions for California’s kids.”
More than one-third of young children under the age of five reside in Los Angeles County, meaning policies determined in Sacramento have a considerable impact locally. The goals of the ECPC are aligned with First 5 LA’s commitment to make sure that all children are ready to learn and succeed in school and in life.
“We are excited the Governor has recognized Kim’s talents, abilities and expertise in service of strong families and healthy, safe and school-ready children,” said First 5 LA Executive Director Kim Belshé. “With Kim’s appointment and the ECPC’s charge, it’s clear the Governor is strongly committed to support the whole child by strengthening families, child health and early learning systems and supports so critical to giving kids the best start in life.”
The ECPC is a policy advisory group for the Governor and the Legislature created through the FY19-20 state budget signed this past June. The council will be composed of 27 total members, nine on the Policy Council, nine on the parent subcommittee and nine on the provider and workforce subcommittee.
The ECPC was one of the key recommendations from the California Assembly Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education’s (BRC) Final Report which calls for significant actions to make California’s Early Learning system work better for young children and families.
In addition, notable early childhood leaders from Los Angeles appointed to ECPC include First 5 California Commissioner and Executive Director of Children’s Partnership Mayra Alvarez, Executive Director of Los Angeles Unified School District Early Childhood Education Division Dean Tagawa, Community Voices and Parent Voices Ambassador Yenni Rivera and Child Care Provider-Organizer at SEIU Local 99 Tania McMillian. First 5 LA extends heartfelt congratulations to each of these appointees and gratitude for their leadership. The full list of gubernatorial appointees can be found here.
Pattillo Brownson will continue to lead First 5 LA’s Policy and Strategy Division as she takes on this new volunteer civic leadership role.
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