Nearly 300 civic, business, and education leaders—from 74 communities across Nebraska—gathered in Kearney on Sept. 17, 2018, to learn more about how communities are already leading this effort and tying early childhood programs to the economic development and vitality of their communities.
Community leaders from Columbus, Crete, Falls City, Gothenburg, Lincoln, Millard, Ogallala, Omaha, Pender, Red Cloud, and Scottsbluff were featured in sessions throughout the day. Sponsors were the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, First Five Nebraska, Nebraska Association of School Boards, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Nebraska Community Foundation, and Nebraska Extension.
The next day, Sept. 18, representatives participating in the statewide Communities for Kids initiative met to develop local plans of action within their respective communities. Communities for Kids is a program of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation and includes more than a dozen communities who are receiving technical assistance to advance early childhood programming and services in their communities.