| |  | Alliance Legislative Agenda: Weekly Issue Spotlight – Reach Up and Fair Share for Vermont – 2/12 This winter, the Alliance is hosting virtual Weekly Issue Spotlights leading up to ECDL. Each session focuses on one or two issues from the Alliance’s 2024 Legislative Agenda. Joined by representatives from the lead organizations, participants can ask direct questions and hear a brief legislative update regarding the issues. The next session will be held Monday, February 12, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, and focuses on two issues on our Legislative Agenda – Reach Up: Ending Child Poverty is Within our Reach, and Fair Share for Vermont’s proposals to raise additional state revenue through progressive tax reform. Led by Amy Rose from Voices for Vermont’s Children and Anika Heilweil from the Fund Vermont’s Future Campaign, this session is a great opportunity to learn more about these issues, where they stand in the Legislature, and how to get involved. Register on Zoom to receive the meeting link. | | | |  | Alliance Monthly Equity Discussion – “Managing DEI in Vermont Non-Profits” – 2/23 Join a group of peers and colleagues from the early childhood community to engage in sustained learning about anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. The Alliance hosts a monthly, salon-style Equity Discussion Group via Zoom. Our next session is coming up on Friday, February 23, at 1:00 pm. This month we will hear from folks who oversee DEI work in a Vermont non-profit organization. The discussion will be led by Denise Bailey, Director of Equity, Engagement and Advocacy at Capstone Community Action, and Maria Richards, Director of Data and Operations at Let’s Grow Kids. They will share their insights on bringing the DEI lens to bear in the context of their organizations’ larger goals and strategies. Register on Zoom to receive the meeting link. | | | |  | Read the VCLF Social Impact Report The Alliance's parent organization, the Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF), is a mission-driven, community-focused alternative lender that provides loans and other resources to local businesses, community organizations and nonprofits, early care and learning providers, and developers of affordable housing who don’t qualify for a loan from a traditional lender. VCLF has released their 2023 Social Impact Report that highlights the community-empowering work they have done in the last year. Their loan portfolio impacts for 2023 include 76 children newly enrolled in early care and learning programs, 151 affordable homes built and rehabilitated, and 195 jobs created and preserved. Learn more on the Loan Fund’s website. | | | |  | Join the Alliance Today Become a member of the Alliance! Alliance members are committed to a common purpose – working together to amplify early childhood voices and influence policy making in order to realize the promise of every Vermont child. We are grateful for the work of our members who advanced our vision this year. We hope you will join us in the coming year to build on the past year’s efforts and support several new initiatives. You can join or renew your annual membership online today. If you have questions, please contact the Alliance’s Outreach Manager Taylor Hughey at taylor@vecaa.org. | | | |  | | | Register for ECDL 2024 Join us in person for the 30th Annual Early Childhood Day at the Legislature (ECDL) on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier (note new date). The issues on our 2024 Legislative Agenda will play central roles at this year’s ECDL, and we are filling the Day's schedule with informative sessions that cover all of our issues and more. Registration will be limited this year because of venue restrictions. We encourage you to register early! To register a group larger than five, please contact Taylor Hughey, Alliance Outreach Manager, at taylor@vecaa.org. Visit the Alliance website for more information about the sessions and to register. | | | | | |  | | | | | The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide coalition formed in 2000 of early childhood professionals, parents, organizations, businesses, and strategic partners committed to improving public policies that impact young children between birth and age eight in the areas of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education. The Alliance crafts an annual Legislative Agenda in partnership with early childhood organizations, provides year-round advocacy support, and facilitates meaningful interactions with policymakers at key times during the decision making process. | | | | 7 School Street | Montpelier , Vermont 05602 vecaa.org The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund. | | | | | | | | | |
