Alamosa mayor pro tem to urge lawmakers to invest in kids

ALAMOSA—Alamosa Mayor Pro Tem Ty Coleman, a Save the Children Action Network community advocate, will travel to Washington, D.C. from March 26 - 28 to participate in the annual Invest In Kids Advocacy Summit, hosted by Save the Children and Save the Children Action Network (SCAN).

He will join hundreds of advocates from across the country to attend in-depth advocacy trainings and urge lawmakers from both parties to make key investments in early childhood education in the U.S. and maternal, newborn and child survival programs overseas. Specifically, attendees will ask lawmakers to oppose deep budget cuts to foreign aid and domestic early childhood education programs such as Head Start that will have disastrous impacts on the health, education and safety of mothers, children and families at home and abroad.

“I can’t wait to go to Washington and use my voice to advocate for our kids,” said Coleman. “This is a great opportunity to meet with other leaders from across the country, as well as our members of Congress and explain to them why we are so passionate about making sure every child in the U.S. has access to a high-quality early learning program, and every child around the world lives to see their fifth birthday and beyond. No matter where they live, every kid deserves the chance to survive and thrive.”

During the 2017 Advocacy Summit, more than 200 advocates – including 70 high school and college students – from more than 30 states are expected to meet with more than 130 lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Summit participants will hear from powerful change-leaders and elected officials, including Congressman James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Washington Post opinion writer Jonathan Capehart, Save the Children President & CEO Carolyn Miles and SCAN President Mark Shriver.