The school referendum was put to a vote yesterday, and Memphis voters made their decision on what they feel is best for our city. Shelby County will have one, unified school system for our children. Now, we must really focus on making children our number one priority during the planning process and implementation of the new system and to always consider how decisions made may directly or indirectly impact children.

We hope our new school system will provide numerous opportunities for children, create a more diverse learning environment, improve academic achievement and provide children with an exceptional education to excel and succeed in life.

Early childhood education is the foundation and key to success. Children need a strong foundation from the very beginning because those who start behind stay behind. On March 1, Voices for Memphis’ Children will head to Nashville for Pre-K Day on the Hill to give children a voice.

Voices Memphis is working with the Shelby County Early Success Coalition and PeopleFirst to lead the advocacy efforts for early childhood education. Our goal is to preserve funding for Pre-K programs locally and statewide and inform others on the importance and benefits of early childhood education.

We hope you will join us on March 1 to speak out for children. This day will give you the opportunity to help ensure that our children receive the things they need in life, especially education.

 

Pre-K Day on the Hill

March 1, 2011

Legislative Plaza

301 Sixth Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37243

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

 

Pre-K Day on the Hill Breakfast Reception

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

505 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37243

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

 

*Please call (615) 259-4000, ext. 111, and leave your name and phone number to register for the event.

Last week, the president announced his proposed budget for 2012.  Take a look at what the 2012 budget could mean for children.

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Opposing Sides In MCS Charter Debate Meet In Town Hall Meeting.

School Consolidation Discussion Spotlights Impact on Children

Friday, January 28 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The date for the school consolidation referendum is set, and Memphis voters will make their decision. This Friday, Voices for Memphis’ Children (Voices Memphis) will host a town hall meeting to ensure that Memphis voters and the community have all the answers they need to make an informed decision on March 8.

The Voices Memphis town hall meeting will present a panel discussion on Friday, January 28 at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library at 10 a.m. Voices Memphis invited representatives from both sides of the school consolidation issue to participate in the discussion and help define what consolidation will mean for children.

Panelists include Memphis City School board members Tomeka Hart, Martavius Jones and Kenneth Whalum Jr., Julie Coffey, deputy administrator of Shelby County Office of Early Childhood and Youth and Keith Williams, president of the Memphis Education Association.

“School consolidation has been strictly focused on politics and the financial implications, but we really have not heard much about how consolidation will affect children,” said Mark Yates, executive director of Voices for Memphis’ Children. “What we want to do is shift the focus and spotlight to our most precious and valuable resource- our children.”

Early voting begins February 16. Only registered voters who live in the Memphis City School district are eligible to vote.

Voices for Memphis’ Children (Voices Memphis) is a child advocacy organization working to create effective public policies for children’s issues including health, education, juvenile justice, behavioral health and social equity. Voices Memphis and its child- and family- focused member organizations collaborate to share knowledge, expertise and resources to give children a voice at all levels of government and in the community. For more information, call (901) 287-5950 or visit Voices Memphis’ blog at www.voicesformemphischildren.wordpress.com.

Voices for Memphis’ Children Earns National Ties

Group aims to advocate for local children

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Voices for Memphis’ Children (Voices Memphis) was recently accepted as a member of the national child advocacy organization, Voices for America’s Children. As one of more than 60 member organizations across the United States, Voices Memphis will provide one, unified voice for children here in the Mid-South.

Voices Memphis collaborates with local child- and family-focused organizations and community leaders to promote important public policies to shape success for children, create awareness around crucial issues and inform policy makers on how their decisions may directly or indirectly impact children.

“We are very pleased to have Voices for Memphis’ Children join our nationwide network as we work together to ensure that children in Memphis, and across the country, grow up healthy, educated and safe,” Voices President and CEO William H. Bentley said.

“Under the committed leadership of Executive Director Mark Yates, we are confident that Voices for Memphis’ Children will now provide an even louder voice on behalf of all Mid-South children,” Bentley added.

Mark Yates stands by the belief that advocacy is the most powerful and effective when people collaborate to speak out on crucial issues that affect children every day. As a membership organization, its collective voices will amplify the need to shape public policy and speak out on behalf of children at all levels of government and in the community.

“Children do not have a vote, do not decide who we put into office, or who represents us in the issues facing our country today,” said Yates. “Therefore, we need to be champions for children and be their voice when they do not have one.”

 

Voices for Memphis’ Children (Voices Memphis) is a child advocacy organization working to create effective public policies for children’s issues including health, education, juvenile justice, behavioral health and social equity. Voices Memphis and its child- and family- focused member organizations collaborate to share knowledge, expertise and resources to give children a voice at all levels of government and in the community. For more information, call (901) 287-5950 or visit Voices Memphis’ blog at www.voicesformemphischildren.wordpress.com.

Voices for America’s Children (Voices) is the nation’s largest network of multi-issue child advocacy organizations. Voices and its national advocacy network of 61 prominent state and local organizations work on behalf of all children, particularly those most vulnerable. The Voices network has been at the forefront of every major child policy victory for the past quarter-century. To learn more, visit www.voices.org. Voices is a founding member of the Children’s Leadership Council, a coalition of more than 50 leading national policy and advocacy groups: www.childrensleadershipcouncil.org.

Children are well on their way to having more government funded meals and healthier options provided at school and after-school programs. The child nutrition bill was passed yesterday by Congress, and it has been sent on to President Obama for his expected signature.

Childhood obesity has been the main issue in the spotlight for this year. Advocates, physicians, political figures and parents have stepped forward to help address this issue affecting the health and well-being of children. People have put so much emphasis on diet, weight and other aspects associated with obesity that we may have forgotten about another issue at hand- eating disorders.  

According to the Eating Disorders Strike Younger and Younger article by ABC News, a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics alerts physicians that eating disorders are happening to younger girls and even boys at a startling rate.

Mark Yates, executive director of Voices for Memphis’ Children, shares his thoughts on the importance of voting and choosing the best candidate to represent all, especially children.

I encourage all of you to get out there tomorrow and vote. This is a very trying and crucial time for our city, state and country. Therefore, it is extremely important for us to have a voice in the issues that not only affect us, but also those issues that affect our children as well.

When we have the best representation in government, it results in efficient and effective decisions that benefit the communities we live in day-to-day. Big wins do not happen by accident. They happen when people like you take action and cast a vote.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Advocacy is the most powerful and effective when people collaborate to speak out on crucial issues that affect children everyday. Voices for Memphis’ Children (VMC) is a multi-issue, child advocacy organization that works to advocate for effective public policy to ensure that children grow up healthy, strong and educated. VMC does not work alone and collaborates with child- and family-focused organizations and interested parties to open new doors for children and provide them with bountiful opportunities.

Voices for Memphis’ Children will host the Speaking Out for Children event today at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library at 11:30 a.m. Children are the most vulnerable and need a strong, unified voice to help give them the things they need in life. Board Chairman of Voices for America’s Children Walter Smith Jr., Ph. D., U.S. Representative Steve Cohen, Shelby County Commissioner Mike Carpenter and Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D. will discuss the importance of being informed about crucial issues regarding children and how policy decisions may directly or indirectly impact children.

“Children do not have a vote, do not decide who we put into office, or who represents us in the issues facing our country today,” said Mark Yates, executive director of Voices for Memphis’ Children. “Therefore, we need to be representatives for children and be their voice when they do not have one.”

Voices for Memphis’ Children was launched in September 2009 to help better the lives of children in Memphis and the Mid-South by advocating for effective public policy. As a membership organization, its collective voices will amplify the need to shape public policy and speak out on behalf of children.

 

Voices for Memphis’ Children (VMC) is a child advocacy organization working to create effective public policies for children’s issues including health, education, juvenile justice, behavioral health and social equity. VMC and its child- and family- focused member organizations collaborate to share the knowledge, expertise and resources to give children a voice at all levels of government and in the community. For more information, call (901) 287-5950 or visit VMC’s blog at www.voicesformemphischildren.wordpress.com.