Aresimowicz Is Named a Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance 2014 Children's Champion

From the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance.

House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz is among the 25 legislators the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance is recognizing for making Connecticut’s young children and their families a priority this session.

Each year, the Alliance seeks nominees from its membership, taking into account active assistance during the legislative session on issues that are of interest to the membership, as well as availability and access for constituents. This year’s nominees proved they put young children front and center as they shaped legislation and engaged with early childhood advocates to create the most effective early childhood policy for Connecticut.

This year has been a particularly successful year for early childhood, with the passage of the CT Office of Early Childhood, planning for universal access for preschool, expanding School Readiness, increasing rates for not only School Readiness, but also child development centers; and budget increases for Care4Kids and full-day, full-year rates for state-funded programs.

“For years, we’ve worked with legislators – like Rep. Joe Aresimowicz - to make early childhood a priority issue, both at the Capitol and in the districts, and we’re seeing results of that work,” said Karen Rainville, CT Early Childhood Alliance co-chair and the executive director of CT Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC). “The Children’s Champions stepped up this year for their youngest constituents.”

Rep. Aresimowicz (D-30) accepted the award on Friday at the New Britain-Berlin YMCA’s new child care and program center on Chamberlain Highway in Berlin. The New Britain-Berlin YMCA is one of the oldest Y’s in the state, with 130 years in the Greater-New Britain area.

At the center’s playground, Aresimowicz thanked the CT Early Childhood Alliance for presenting him with this award, but said it’s the advocates he would like to thank for their hard work and dedication.

“Early childhood education gives our kids the tools they need for success in the classroom and in life,” Aresimowicz said. “Supporting Connecticut’s children has been a priority for me and I will continue to fight so that early childhood education remains a priority for the state.”

Following the brief ceremony, the YMCA’s “Little Explorers” preschool campers serenaded the group of advocates with songs from the movie “Frozen.”

Photo: Dr. Mary Yuskis, Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington; David Radcliffe, Coalition for New Britain’s Children; Samantha Dynowski, CT Early Childhood Alliance; John Cattelan, Connecticut Alliance of YMCA’s; Rep. Joe Aresimowicz; Rich McCarty, New Britain-Berlin YMCA; Liz Brown, E.C. Brown Consulting; and Charles Leach, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. Credit: courtesy of CT Early Childhood Alliance