Let's Vote for Kids!

It's go time! "We Vote for Kids" is off and running! What is "We Vote for Kids?" It's the CT Early Childhood Alliance's non-partisan campaign to raise early childhood issues in the election. It has two components: candidate education and voter engagement. As a non-profit organization, the Alliance cannot endorse candidates. We are asking people to Pledge to Vote with kids in mind on November 6. We are also asking the candidates for governor down to state representatives where they stand on early childhood issues through a questionnaire that we will share with you, so you can make informed decisions.

September 25 is National Voter Registration Day. We would love to use this day to engage as many people as we can around voting. We are particularly looking for people connected to child care centers to ask parents to take the pledge and make sure they are registered to vote at their current address.

If you would be willing to host a registration drive at your early childhood center, we can supply you with "We Vote for Kids" tee-shirts, stickers and signs. We are trying to do as much of the Pledge to Vote online, but we'll supply some back-up paper pledge cards and of course, voter registration materials. If you are interested, please fill out THIS FORM. Please do so ASAP so we can get the materials to you in time.

Short videos like this (click the screenshot to see the video) are key to spreading the word through social media. We would love to share short videos of cute kids saying, "I'm too little to vote, but you can," or having adults talk about why it's so important to vote with children's issues in mind. Have a cute kid? Want some hints on making them a "star?" Contact Jessica at [email protected]. When sharing a video on Facebook or other social media, please include "Take the Pledge to vote at www.wevoteforkids.org," and use the hashtag #WeVoteForKids so we can find it and set your privacy setting on that particular video to "public" so we can share it, too.

Have you checked to see if your registration is up-to-date? Use the Secretary of State's tool to check to see if you are registered to vote.

You can register to vote online.

November Races Set - Let's Vote for Kids!

You haven't heard from us since right before the primary (taking much-needed summer vacations), so in case you missed it, candidates have been chosen for the major parties. Ned Lamont and his running mate Susan Bysiewicz will be facing off with Bob Stefanowski and Joe Markley for Governor and Lt. Governor, respectively. Also of interest, CT's Fifth Congressional seat is open, with Rep. Esty's departure. Former National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes will run against former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos. Over the weekend, the Independent Party endorsed its candidates, cross-endorsing the candidates endorsed by the GOP. Independent candidate for governor Oz Griebel and his running mate Monte Frank, have met the petition threshold and will be on the ballot in November.

As a non-profit organization, the Alliance cannot endorse candidates, however, in the coming months, we are asking individuals to pledge to vote on November 6 through our pledge to vote for kids, and asking the candidates for governor where they stand on early childhood issues through a questionnaire that we will share with you, so you can make informed decisions. If you haven't registered to vote yet, you can do so HERE.

BUILD Initiative Offers Infant/Toddler Webinars

The BUILD Initiative will be offering several webinars in August surrounding infant and toddler care. The Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) offers an opportunity to improve access to, and quality of, child care for infants, toddlers, their families, and the teachers and programs that work for them. Through funding and project support, BUILD is partnering with ZERO to THREE and CLASP for a series of webinars for state policy leaders, decision makers, and advocates. Even if you can't attend each, register anyway - you will receive the archive in your email.

Monday, August 13, 2 p.m. - Equality Right from the Start: Addressing Access to Quality for Infants and Toddlers

Monday, August 27, 2 p.m. - Seize the Day for Babies! Child Care Assistance Opportunities for Infants, Toddlers, and the Providers Who Love Them (Part 1)

More information can also be found HERE.