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!
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
Congressman Chris Murphy meets with Meriden Blueprint Leaders, 2009
In time, the Meriden Family Zone
will grow to provide a comprehensive, ‘cradle to college’ continuum of child and family supports to improve the educational and developmental outcomes within a targeted and distressed Meriden neighborhood.
This effort was born from Meriden's Blueprint project, and was inspired by the work of the Harlem Children Zone (www.hcz.org).
Pictured here with the HCZ founder Geoffry Canada are Meriden parent leaders Sophie Vargas and Marisol Estrada-Soto (November 2009).
