ECIC HONORS STARS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) called upon the stars to celebrate the accomplishments of Michigan's Great Start Initiative last month. The celebration, "Cosmic Collaboration," was held at the Cranbrook Institute of Science where stars of a different sort set the mood and tone for the evening. The room was illuminated with all of the many 'stars' involved in early childhood education, including members from all of the 21 Great Start Collaboratives around the state.
Keynoting was former Governor James B. Hunt of North Carolina, the nation's leading advocate for early childhood investment. Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, who put Michigan children on the road to success through creation of the Great Start Initiative in 2004, also attended, congratulating and thanking everyone for their efforts on behalf of Michigan's youngest learners. Gov. Granholm reinforced her support for Great Start and discussed the benefits of investing in early childhood development and creating an educated workforce for the 21st-century.
Governor Hunt shared with the audience his personal quest to improve the quality of education in North Carolina through the creation of the state-wide Smart Start program. Smart Start is North Carolina's nationally recognized and award-winning early childhood initiative designed to ensure that young children enter school healthy and ready to succeed. He was impressed with the work that Michigan has done on the issue and encouraged everyone to continue the hard work. The ECIC recognized the efforts of both of the Governor's by having stars in the solar system named after them.
The ECIC also recognized their infinite universe of early childhood pioneers: Beverly McDonald, Carl H. Ill, Paul Shaheen, Deanna DePree, J. Mark Sullivan, Betty Tableman and Sharon Claytor Peters; along with groups and individual who led to the creation of the Great Start initiative. The evening's message was that because of their leadership, dedication and support of early childhood education, Michigan is making a difference for thousands of Michigan's children with quality early childhood education.