New Mexico families promote Early Childhood Education and Care Department bill in Santa Fe

Deming Headlight - 3/1/2019

March 01-- Mar. 1--SANTA FE -- Families across New Mexico have traveled to the capitol this week to meet with representatives one-on-one and discuss a big topic in the state: early childhood education.

For 14 years, head start grantees take parents to legislative sessions to participate in the Parent Advocacy Leadership Institute, a two-day event where parents can learn about the legislative process to conceivably enable themselves as leading advocates within their communities. This year a total of 53 parents participated, 15 were from Luna County.

"Their testimonies are very heartwarming and emotional because a lot of parents will share their story of how they grew up and where they are at now," said Crystal Peña, secretary of the New Mexico Head Start Association. "And how head start has supported them by being that stepping stone to get them out of poverty, get them to graduate or get their GED and go to college."

Parents will ask their representatives to also consider a bill. This year's focus was Senate Bill 22 "Early Childhood Education and Care Department." SB 22 would create a centralized department for early childhood education by consolidating programs such as the Public Education Department and the Children, Youth and Families Department.

On their last day, Wednesday, the parents were joined by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales at an Parent Advocacy Leadership Institute reception -- where both Grisham and Howie motioned support for the parents to speak up and advocate change for the future of New Mexico children.

"The eariler we invest in supporting our 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds and families, the better off we will be in the long run," Grisham said during the reception. "We are one of the last states not to recognize that serious investments in early childhood education and in serious public education, will make all the difference."

Xchelzin Peña may be reached at 575-546-2611 or at XPena@demingheadlight.com.

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