Get Involved

There are a number of ways for families, individuals, businesses and community organizations to get involved with Meriden Children First Initiative.   The following describes an important new community initiative led by parent and community leaders - just like you!

Blueprint Project

The Meriden Early Childhood Council will oversee the implementation of the Meriden Blueprint.   There are three workgroups that are responsible for implementation plan components.  The work groups are made up of parent and community leaders - just like you!   For more information and to help contact 630-3566 or dwradcliffe@juno.com

Blueprint Workgroups involve dozens of parent and community leaders who meet to implement strategies related to the following priority areas:

1.  Early Childhood Education

2.  Health and Development

3.  Family Support

 A summary of the work to-date can be found here.

 Congressman Chris Murphy meets with Meriden Blueprint Leaders, 2009

What is the Meriden Children Zone? 

On April 8, a delegation of Meriden parent and community leaders involved with the Blueprint visited the Harlem Children Zone project in New York City.  The objective of the HCZ (www.hcz.org) is to 'create a neighborhood safety net so tight that no child can slip through'.   The results have been extraordinary.  The Meriden team learned many strategies that may be useful here.

Participants:
Back row:  Barbara Holloman (NAACP), David Salafia (Meriden City Council), Karen Roesler (Meriden Public Library), Andy Paul (Easter Seals/Head Start), Beth Vumbaco (Department of Health and Human Services), Tom Bruenn (Meriden Board of Education)
Front row: Geri Kogut (Children First), Sophie Vargas (Children First), Cathy Battista (Family Resource Centers), Marisol Estrada-Soto (Children First), David Swedock (Council of Neighborhoods) and staff from the HCZ.