Rep. John Espinoza, D-Croswell, right, sits down with Peck resident Nina Barnett, center, and other residents of the 83rd District to discuss the future of education in Michigan at the Star Power 2010 rally Wednesday at the Capitol.
More than 3,000 parents, their children and childhood advocates flooded the Capitol lawn Wednesday wearing bright yellow T-shirts to express support for investment in early childhood programs.
Organizers of the fourth annual Star Power 2010 welcomed people from across the state. Throughout the early part of the day, participants met with state legislators to make their voices heard — an opportunity to inform and spur conversation of development programs at the local level.
Bryn Fortune, director of Michigan’s Great Start Parent Coalition Development and Assistance, said the day focused on the aspects of children’s physical, social and emotional health, as well as parent leadership after a child is born. If those aspects are improved, the cost of crime and special education would be reduced for the state, she said.
“A lot of times, people think of (early childhood programs as) just preschool,” Fortune said. “It is really about all of these different pieces that need to be in place in each community.”
Before the age of five, Fortune’s 25-year-old daughter spent two and a half years in the hospital due to several health complications. Each day, the struggle of ensuring her child would receive the best care possible became more of an issue, she said.
“When you know how to ask the right questions, you can get what you need,” Fortune said. “Then, of course, you’re in this funny position that you really don’t know anything about systems or services — you don’t even know what to ask (to receive help).”
Colleen Unsal said she attended the day’s events to inform other parents and her representatives about the importance of early childhood programs. As a single mother, caring for her two-year-old son who suffers from partial hearing loss and speech issues becomes more of a challenge when state programs are on the chopping block, she said.
“Every family that is here is going to be affected by the budget process in regards to early childhood,” Unsal said. “Having 3,400 people here sends a very loud message to legislatures that early childhood is important for the future.”
According to a November 2009 study by Wilder Research, about $1.15 billion is saved annually due to state spending on early childhood programs.
Although Michigan is facing budget cuts, state Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, said a strong economic foundation with job creation would be able to provide for early childhood programs and promote savings.
“We’re trying to cut programs as little as we can, especially (early childhood programs) that give a good return on the taxpayers’ investment,” Richardville said.
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