United Way of Central Louisiana hosts Rapides Early Ed Day

RAPIDES PARISH, La. (KALB) - On February 27, the United Way of Central Louisiana hosted the Rapides Early Ed Day at Cenla Christian Child Care Center of Woodworth.

The program addressed the critical issues surrounding early childhood education that impact Central Louisiana children, families and the workforce.

Speakers at the event included:

• Dr. Libbie Sonnier, Louisiana Policy Institute
• Michelle Purl, CEO of United Way of Central Louisiana
• Cindy Rushing, Director of Early Childhood for the Rapides Parish School Board
• Lance Harris, BESE Member for District 5
• Monte Wilson, CEO of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health System
• Shannon Johns, Owner of Cenla Christian Child Care Center of Woodworth

“My prayer is that we can continue the difficult, yet necessary, work to prioritize early childhood education as the critical investment that it is,” said Johns. “The reality is simple. When we invest in children, we invest in families, we invest in communities and we invest in the future of our state.”

After the presentations, attendees were invited to tour the facility, meet the staff and even take a moment to read to the children there.

“Children in Louisiana are the very best. They deserve our very best,” said Sonnier. “The most important people in this place today are the little ones in these rooms. I don’t know that many people know that we’re top 20 in the country for early childhood education accountability. Early educators in these spaces, and these early learning centers, are not babysitters. They are brain architects. They are meaning and magic makers.”

Harris said, “The chances of dropout, the chances of doing the wrong things, increase exponentially if our kids are not prepared and ready. That’s what you’re investing in right here.”

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