May/June 2007

Early Learning Coalition Plants a Forest at the State Capitol

Babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their teachers from early care and education programs statewide shared their artistic talents to demonstrate the significance of high quality early learning. Over 40 unique "trees" were on display in the Capitol Rotunda on April 1-3, 2007.


The forest

 

Below: Students from the Butterfly room at Creative Learning in Madison visited with Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee). They presented him with a tree created by children at La Causa, a center in Rep. Colon's district.

 

The following week students and teachers from Madison-area programs delivered trees to members of the Joint Committee on Finance calling on the committee to "see the forest through the trees and fund high quality early care and education initiatives."

Right: Senator Lehman shows off his Racine pride holding a tree made for him by children at Little Thinkers.

 

Above: Representative Kitty Rhoades and Representative Steve Kestell posed with children and their providers from Sunshine Family Child Care in Madison.


Left: Senator Darling received a tree made by children and their providers from Stepping Stones in Port Washington.

The Early Learning Coalition, of which WCCF is a member, organized the "reforestation project" as part of our campaign to ensure state investments in high quality early care and education. Two weeks after the Capitol display, the Joint Committee on Finance, on a 14-2 bipartisan vote, amended the Governor's proposed budget and made significant investments to protect the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program from drastic changes to eligibility, parent co-payments and program access.

Laure Blanchrd, Director of Wausau Child Care, hand delivered a tree to Senator Russ Decker's office.

Why is the symbol of the tree significant?
The trunk of the tree represents the provider who builds a strong foundation on which the children in their care grow and flourish. Leaves represent the children who are growing and learning together. Some classrooms also chose to include clouds, stars or apples in their artwork to symbolize a child's future.