Early Childhood Advocacy Day Recap: Relive the Best Moments from Springfield

Illinois Action for Children (IAFC) was honored to host another impactful Early Childhood Advocacy Day (ECAD) on May 13, alongside our partners Start Early; Child Care For All; COFI / POWER-PAC IL; Latino Policy Forum; We, the Village Coalition; Raising Illinois; SEIU HCII; United Palatine Coalition; Evanston Early Childhood Council; and Illinois AEYC.  

Parents, educators, and advocates across the state united to urge legislators to invest in children, families, and the early childhood workforce. Here’s our recap of some of the day’s highlights: 

Rallying the Voices of Advocates 

At the opening rally planned by IAFC, parent advocate, Rosalia Salgado, welcomed the crowd in the Capitol Rotunda with stories from her own advocacy journey as a mother of two and reminded them of the power their voices have to drive change.  

Another parent, Stephanie Jimenez, shared a powerful testimony of navigating Early Intervention services and the impact early childhood programs have had on her family. Stephanie had concerns about her youngest daughter’s speech and language development but through the support from speech and occupational therapists, her daughter is now about to head off to kindergarten with the support she needs to thrive.   

Dr. Isaiah Allen, Early Childhood Education Program Director at Prairie State College, and an advocate with years of professional experience in early childhood, energized the crowd  with chants to support Smart Start workforce grants, and reflected on how Head Start helped shape his path to success. 

To close the rally, Rosalia Salgado also led hundreds of advocates in chants of “Babies Can’t Wait!” and “Full Child Care Funding!” which echoed throughout the halls of the Capitol.   

Meaningful Connections with Legislators 

Inspired by these stories and their own personal experiences, advocates gathered in groups to meet with their elected officials and to promote the life changing impact of early childhood programs. Legislators are finalizing the state budget this month, and there’s still time for you to share the importance of early childhood programs in your child’s life – even if you could not join us in Springfield. 

To fulfill Governor Pritzker’s vision of making Illinois the best state to raise a young child, we need stronger, sustained investment in these essential and impactful programs.  

Explore more ways to take action: 

• Send a Message: Urge legislators to invest in our state’s youngest learners and their families today. Send a letter and add your own story to share the importance of funding early childhood programs and the difference they have made in your child’s life. 

• Participate in Virtual Advocacy Training: We, along with our partners at Start Early and Latino Policy Forum, created a virtual advocacy training to help prepare advocates to meet with their legislators. While this training covers Early Childhood Advocacy Day, it also includes tips that can guide your advocacy throughout the year.  

• Follow and Take Action on Social Media: We, the Village created a social media toolkit with sample posts you can share to raise awareness about the importance of funding ECEC!   

Thank You, Advocates! 

We’re grateful to everyone who stood with us at Early Childhood Advocacy Day to uplift Illinois’ children, families, and child care providers.  

View photos from the day and if you joined us in Springfield, please share your feedback on your Advocacy Day experience by completing this survey.  

Find more coverage of Early Childhood Advocacy Day on News Channel 20 or watch the full recording of the rally. 

Watch the Rally