LANSING — More than 3,400 parents, children and advocates rallied at the Capitol Wednesday, May 19, to share with state lawmakers how the state’s early childhood investment is critical to Michigan’s economic future.
 
The 2010 gathering is by far the largest Star Power since the event began in 2007. Fourteen hundred people attended the 2009 event.
 
After a 10 a.m. parade and program recognizing champions of early childhood investment on the Capitol steps, including local Early Childhood teacher, Kara Ray from Ontonagon for traveling the furthest in the state of Michigan to attend Star Power. Kara Ray and her three children Kalea, Zac and Kaitlyn, all students in the Ontonagon School District traveled over ten hours to reach the capitol.
 
Fourteen Gogebic and Ontonagon County participants met with their State Representative Michael Lahti and Senator Michael Prusi and were introduced to both the House of Representatives and the Senate during session.
 
“Attending Star Power in Lansing is an impactful way for people from the western Upper Peninsula show our state leaders how important early childhood investment is in Michigan,” said Allison Liddle, Gogebic-Ontonagon Great Start Collaborative coordinator.
 
“Michigan saves more than $1 billion each year due to past investments in prekindergarten,” said Judy Y. Samelson, CEO of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), citing a 2009 study of Michigan by Wilder Research. “That’s a message lawmakers need to hear over and over again.” 
 
Investments in child health, preschool, quality child care, home visits, prenatal care, parents and more help to ensure that children arrive in kindergarten ready to learn, Samelson noted. According to a survey of Michigan kindergarten teachers last year, roughly one third of incoming kindergarteners aren’t able to keep up because of social, emotional, health or cognitive problems.
 
“The research on the educational and economic value of investments in early childhood is overwhelmingly clear,” she said.
 

Copper Country Great Start Collaborative, is also working to assure state funding for early childhood programs continues is a high priority, so Wednesday for a local Star Power event they walked across the Portage Lake Lift Bridge to the Ray Kestner Waterfront Park in Houghton. “It's in support of a similar event in Lansing on the same day. The event is aimed at legislators.” Copper County Great Start Director, Emilie Krznarich said.
 
The Great Start Collaborative works to engage community partners in identifying existing services, and planning and coordination of services, address the factors that influence a child's readiness for school and life, promote community awareness of early childhood issues and advocate for quality early childhood programs and services.
 
“Great Start” was created in 2004 to restructure the state’s investment in children from birth to 5. The ECIC was formed to build, grow and administer Great Start starting with the creation of local community efforts and also focusing on building a stronger and higher quality child care system for Michigan.
 
For more information about Great Start, visit www.gogreatstart.org.