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Voices' 10th Annual Congress on Children
Largest Ever Community Gathering for Kids
 September
26th marked our tenth Congress on Children in
the SKYROOM of the University of the Incarnate Word.
Our theme for the day was that 212th
degree, that critical action that turns a curve, that
moves an effort to a critical mass for positive change,
a ‘tipping-point’, if you will, that marks a quantum
shift in opinion or behavior. We applied that idea to
advocacy, and more specifically, to a movement of child
advocates working collectively to reorder our public
priorities, to voice the wisdom of making San Antonio A
City for Kids and mobilize our elected policy makers to
reflect that common value!
With the United Way as a title
sponsor, we had nearly 400 in attendance with more than
300 of them representing over 100 agencies or
organizations. The program included a ‘skill-enhancing’
session on more effective communication to build opinion
consensus. There was an award event to pay tribute to
Ralph Bender and his lifetime of advocacy for children.
Former Lt. Governor, Bill Ratliff, informed the group on
the statewide initiative, RAISE YOUR HAND TEXAS, which
involves business leaders and grass-roots advocates to
support public education with an emphasis on expanding
Public Pre-Kinder during this upcoming legislative
session. There were also policy issue reports on our
three major areas of interest, Abuse & Neglect. Early
Care & Education and Health Care. |
