http://www.playworldsystems.com/

Where Passion Starts

From 1912 to 1966 The Cutter Mansion house belonged to the Home Finding and Aid Society of North Idaho, Inc. serving the needs of many abandoned children. From 1966 on it has been leased to LCECP to operate the local Head Start program in Lewiston, ID. In 2002, the Lewis-Clark Early Childhood Program was able to purchase the property with the intention of rehabilitating the buildings and continuing the legacy of serving children and families .

Lewiston, Idaho

Personal CommitmentEarly Learning Investment Commission ~ “The purpose of the Early Learning Investment Commission is to secure support for public investment in early learning by focusing on practices that are educationally, economically and scientifically sound.”

Penn State Cooperative Extension in Union County, Pennsylvania ~ Community Engagement Team Union /Snyder/Mifflin County 2008 – Present

GenesisStars ~ The National Head Start Alumni Society National Advisory Board Member

Sales Management ( Early Childcare ) ~ 1992 - Present

Professional CommitmentEstablished business alliances with national educational organizations, including the National Head Start Association and National Association of Child Care Professionals

Formed corporate partnerships with:

Cal Ripken Jr. and Ripken Management & Designs

Costco

D. R. Horton, the largest home builder in the U.S. 

Promoting the message, The World Needs Play, is an important philosophy with many educational institutions. 

Bringing a passion to help fight childhood obesity through play is critical to a child’s well being while introducing children to fun and fitness.

Early Learning Investment Commission Member Responsibilities

Recommending strategies for the Commonwealth to engage business and civic leaders and organizations in early learning planning and advocacy at the State and local level.

 Increasing business, civic and public awareness of the economic investment importance of early childhood education.

Planning, implementing and hosting an Annual Economic Summit on Early Childhood Investment. The Annual Economic Summit will include outreach to business, civic, educational and governmental leaders.

Planning and implementing an annual meeting for legislators and legislative staff to understand the economic, educational and social impact of investing in quality early childhood education.

Developing and recommending updates to a multi-year plan for the expansion of effective early childhood services.

Evolution of Early Learning Investment Commission

Engaging business leaders to support public investment in early learning began in 2003 through a research project called Pre K Counts Public-Private Partnership for Educational Success.

The research findings of that project are being presented by Dr. Stephen Bagnato today in another session. Pre K Counts in Pennsylvania for youngsters early school success

Early Learning Investment Commission ~ PA

Educating other business leaders about the importance of this issue-engaging them in dialogue about the economic and workforce development value of this type of investment;

Presentations to business-related organizations (i.e. Chambers of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, professional organizations) in their communities and around the state;

Planning, hosting and recruiting business leaders to an annual educational Summit in the capital that features national experts and has a strong “call to action” asking attendees to reach out to their legislators on behalf of this issue....and most importantly……

Meeting with legislative caucus leaders to discuss the importance of this economic strategy on investing in human capital at the youngest age. This Commission specifically targets caucus leaders because of the influence they have in the legislative process and the ability to impact policy directly.

Strategy for Impacting Public Investment in Early Childhood Development

Suggestions for Engaging Community Business Leaders:

Create organizing “entity” that will help mobilize business leaders around this issue. This entity must be considered impactful and operationally effective by business leaders.

Identify and recruit business leaders who show an interest in this issue through community networks such as United Ways, Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis, whose platforms may already include early childhood initiatives. Explain value of having a member participate on a “state-wide” Commission, and address objections/obstacles (e.g. they may be afraid to lose good board members)

Create concise work plan

Educate business leaders through scheduled meetings and educational sessions/summits. Provide qualitative and quantitative data on outcomes and link to mission in order to continue driving advocacy (In PA, linkage is to greater public investment)

Strategy for Impacting Public Investment in Early Childhood Development

Respect business leaders‘ time commitment; conduct well organized meetings; develop identifiable goals/outcomes for their participation; ensure meaningful work

Staff and support business leaders so they can complete expected tasks (prepare materials, arrange speaking engagements, set up site visits, hold training sessions, etc.)

Solicit business leaders’ ideas and act on their input. Take advantage of their expertise and connections.

Provide opportunities for business leaders to be visible and knowledgably represent the early learning strategy; thank them for their support; recognize their efforts often.

Determine what motivates each business person and use them as resources accordingly. For example, if bringing attention to their company is important motivational factor, create opportunities for them to speak in front of press or large groups. Think about the management concept of benefit exchange.

Strategy for Impacting Public Investment in Early Childhood Development

Create feeling of “mission” among business leaders. Make sure they understand what they can potentially do for children, families and economy through this work. Clearly identify potential policy impact.

Help leaders develop their own “stories” through pre-school site visits, stories about employees in their companies, or people they know in their communities

Use leaders’ local community, business and industry connections for recruitment to expand centers of influence and build local/regional engagement and mobilization

Identify and utilize appropriately business leaders’ legislative connections to recruit legislators to support this initiative.

Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC)

Goal: Build a permanent sustainable network of business champions who understand the

solid connection between quality early childhood experiences and a strong Pennsylvania economy, and who effectively communicate this message to other

business leaders and members of business related groups, and policy makers.

Statement of Responsibilities: Business leaders must become active supporters of high-quality early education in

order to bring about the public investment that is needed today to impact workforce development in years to come. In supporting high quality early childhood education, business leaders must emphasize public investment in programs that are proven to be effective. The Early Learning Investment Commission will provide opportunities for business and civic leaders, the public, opinion leaders (media), government officials

and legislators to learn about the educational, economic and scientific basis for public investment in early childhood development.

Summary Work Plan 2009 - 2010

Road to SuccessAnnual ELIC Economic Summit on Early Childhood Investment – Business leaders hear from national experts on the importance of investing in early childhood development in Pennsylvania. (Target audience - business, civic and educational leaders)Annual Legislative Event – Legislators and legislative staff members hear from national experts on the importance of investing in effective early educational strategies. (Target audience: General Assembly and legislative staff)ELIC Business Leaders Speakers Bureau – Business leaders share their experiences with leaders at local community events. (Target audience: general public, local business & civic leaders, opinion leaders and media) Media connection – Business leaders author Opinion Editorials and Letters to the Editor, meet with Editorial Boards and participate on TV and radio programs to share message of the importance of public investment in early learning programs and to influence community opinion leaders. (Target audience: public, media, business, legislators)Direct outreach to community business leaders – ELIC members engage other business and civic leaders and encourage their legislative outreach to impact public policy. (Target audience: local business & civic leaders)Direct outreach to policy makers - ELIC members will educate and engage legislative leaders to impact public policy on behalf of investment in early childhood development. (Target audience: local, state and national policy makers)Support to community organizations interested in building local coalitions of business leaders – ELIC will provide assistance and support to groups organizing business leaders to support public investment in early childhood development.

Questions…..

Contact Information:

Kevin Winkelman

National Sales Manager

Playworld Systems, Inc.

1000 Buffalo Road

Lewisburg, PA 17837

570-522-9800

kevinw@playworldsystems.com