Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 26, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

First Lady to host public forums in eastern Washington

OLYMPIA — First Lady Mona Lee Locke and Melinda French Gates, co-chairs of the Governor's Commission on Early Learning, will host a series of public forums on early learning in three eastern Washington cities this fall.

As co-chairs of the Governor's Commission on Early Learning, Locke and Gates will travel to Spokane, Yakima and the Tri-Cities to get comments from parents on the issues surrounding early learning in youngest children.

"Giving a child the best environment for learning in the first three years of life is critical to brain function and development," Locke said. "We're trying to help parents learn to make the most of the first years of their children's lives by adding simple things to each day's activities. These public forums are a way for parents to have direct input to the Commission's work."

The Governor's Commission on Early Learning brings together leaders in health, education, child care, business and government to critically examine the state's role in improving the earliest stages of learning for children from birth to age five.

The Commission's goal is to make sure every child in Washington goes to school prepared to succeed. In its work, the 25-member group will identify gaps in programs for children and parents, as well as raise the public's awareness of issues surrounding early learning in children.

The public forums will be held in three Eastern Washington cities:

Spokane: Nov. 10, 7 – 9 p.m., Spokane Falls Community College Student Union, 3410 W. Fort George Drive. Child care will be provided. Parents should call 509-533-3624 by Nov. 6 for child care arrangements.

Yakima: Nov. 19, 6 – 7:30 p.m., Jefferson Child and Family Community Center, 902 E. Viola St. Child care will be provided during the meeting.

Tri-Cities: Dec. 8 (location to be determined)

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive