Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission

1. Building and Maintaining a Coalition of Concerned and Committed Business Leaders in Pennsylvania Diane E. HalsteadDirector- Business PartnershipsPennsylvania Key Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission

2. Why do business leaders make a difference in child advocacy? • Lessons learned….. • Business leaders grab the attention of legislators • and the media • They are “unlikely messengers” • Perceptions matter • Style matters • Making a credible “investment argument”

3. What convinces business leaders to become legislative advocates for children? • Making a significant difference • Improving the company’s image with employees • Enhancing the company’s appeal to customers • Strengthening leadership skills • Networking

4. How can you recruit business leaders to be “champions” for children? • Be strategic • Opinion leaders drive thinking on current issues • Highly influential business leaders • Tap into their desire for involvement • Many want to “give back” to the community • Ask them to get involved in legislative advocacy…“roll up their sleeves”

5. How can you work effectively with business leaders? • Take business leaders into the early childhood community – ECE site visits builds “experiences” • Develop a concrete legislative agenda • Staff them – support with talking points, research, and local data • Determine what other resources businesses can provide

6. Tips for partnering with business leaders… • Use business leaders’ time sparingly & strategically • Become “bilingual” and “bicultural” • Be prepared to share the stage & assume new role • Develop realistic timeframe • Celebrate successes…no matter how small

7. Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) • Goal: • Build a permanent, sustainable network of business champions who understand the solid connection between quality early childhood experiences and a strong Pennsylvania economy, and who effectively communicate this message to other business leaders, members of business-related groups, and policy makers.

8. ELIC Work Plan - Responsibilities: • Attend 2 face-to-face meetings each year (Fall Prep & Spring Summit) and group calls around advocacy • Media outreach: Opinion-Editorials, letters to the editor, press events • Early childhood program site visit – not just a photo op! • Speakers’ Bureau – PPTs prepped, leave behind materials produced, secure site, run equipment • Legislative & gubernatorial advocacy – training & support materials…3 touches • Support to regional organizations interested in building local coalitions of business leaders

9. Regional coalitions…building a state-wide “net” • Summit – facilitates regional collaboration, level-set everyone • Commission – forms “core” of regional effort & consistency in messaging, critical mass needed • Local organization – “staffs” members, leads effort • State Director – provides guidance and support to regional teams

10. Diane Halstead • Director – Business Partnerships • PA Early Learning Investment Commission • 301 Market Street, 9th Floor • Harrisburg, PA 17101-2224 • 717-213-2069 • diahal@berksiu.org