Mobilizing The Faith Community To Embrace Early Childhood As A Community Priority Presented by Angelica Oberleithner, Durhams Partnership for Children.

Mobilizing The Faith Community To Embrace Early Childhood As A Community Priority

Presented by Angelica Oberleithner, Durham’s Partnership for ChildrenWinnie Morgan, Faith Initiative Coordinator

“If we don’t stand up for children, we don’t stand for much.”

Marian Wright Edelman

Durham’s Early Childhood Faith Initiative- Background/History- Goals- Strategies & Project Activities- Funding- Lessons Learned & Next Steps

HISTORY – Highlights2004-05: Preliminary discussions held around need to engage Faith

Community in early childhood issues.2005-06: Durham’s Partnership for Children, the Durham Family Initiative,

and End Poverty Durham engage in planning to survey the faith community.

2006-07: Survey conducted by volunteers; data entered in a database.2007-08: Funding support received from private foundations and faith

community. Report published.2009-10: Contractor hired. Community Faith Leaders breakfast held.2010-11: Monthly newsletters go to more than 300+ faith contacts. Lunch &

Learn series for faith educators held. Challenge grant received.

How would you create a culture of early childhood focus with our faith community?

What strategies would you use to make it happen?

Project Goals:• Raise awareness of the importance of child development, and

specifically brain development, from birth to 5 in congregations

• Raise awareness about issues affecting young children and their families

• Provide opportunities to strengthen programs for youngest children and their parents and raise awareness about available resources

Strategies: Committee Breakfast & Handout Newsletter Presentations & Technical Assistance Lunch & Learn/Training

How would you raise funds for this initiative in your community?

Who would you approach?

Where would you look for $$?

Fundraising: Private foundations – local & regional; family &

corporate Local congregations Individuals

Lessons Learned & Next Steps: Planning/Fundraising Events/Community Engagement Staffing Capacity

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."

Nelson Mandela

Contact Information:Winnie Morgan

[email protected] Oberleithner

[email protected]

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