Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Nov. 14, 2007) – Broward County four-year-olds, dressed as doctors, agriculturalists, law enforcement officers and construction workers, expressed their hopes and dreams for their future careers to State Senator Nan Rich (D-34) as they celebrated Picture the Future week at an event hosted by the Jack & Jill Children’s Center.

Rich is one of Florida’s leading child advocates and is a staunch supporter of high quality pre-k programs. Joining Rich on a panel were business leaders Harry Duncanson and Mark Peterson, Children’s Services Council CEO Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, and Children’s Campaign President Roy Miller. Debbie Mason, a long-time leader in Broward County and Children’s Campaign Board Chair, moderated the event and community briefing attended by pre-k teachers, early childhood professionals and employees, parents and advocates.

Picture the Future is a statewide advocacy event created to focus the attention of Florida policy makers on the need for high quality pre-k, specifically degreed teachers in pre-k classrooms. Currently, although degreed teachers are required for the summer session of the constitutionally mandated pre-k program, the regular school year allows for no such degreed teacher provision.

Duncanson and Peterson addressed the importance of degreed teachers to the pre-k program in order to achieve future economic benefits and growth. Early childhood education is increasingly recognized by economists and other researchers, they said, as being critical to success in school and in life, which ultimately creates a more qualified workforce.

They are in good company. Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, has been joined by a growing number of business and industry leaders (including a coalition of economists, business leaders, donors, children’s advocates and policy experts with the same goal, the Partnership for America’s Economic Success) stressing the need for the United States to provide quality pre-k to four-year-olds in order for the country to compete successfully in the global market.

Peterson, with Bank of America and who serves as Board chair of Jack & Jill Children’s Center stated, “Jack and Jill approved last night, a strategic plan dealing with how we fund and operationalize the need to have degreed teachers.” Peterson went on to say, “We will be raising the additional funds to create scholarships for our teachers to pursue their BA degrees. We hope other centers will take those steps.”

The event was highlighted by the pre-k students handing Senator Rich pictures of what they want to be when they grow up to illustrate the need for a quality early education, the foundation on which to build their lives. Pictures of teachers, doctors, lawyers, and more were drawn by young hands with colorful crayons.

This event was sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Chapman Family Foundation, Inc., Voices for America’s Children, and Pre-K Now, and was organized in partnership with Spencer Ingram and Associates, LLC, Early Childhood Association of Florida, Generations United and Children’s Campaign, Inc.

Roy Miller, President and founder of Children’s Campaign, Inc. says that the groups that put together this event are looking for effective action. “ Florida has a responsibility to our children, our future, and the voters to make available quality pre-k for every four year old in our state,” states Miller. “It is time for all of Florida to support Senator Rich and her vision and commitment.”