Moving into the next phase...and a debate update

By David Lawrence, Jr. on 10/05/2010 @ 02:47 PM

One might think we could have some time to rest after such a splendid September for The Children's Movement...but this is not the time.

Instead, we met Monday in Orlando with most everyone on the 27-member statewide steering committee and also with more than 30 leaders from the local and regional steering groups. It was an impressive gathering of good and involved people with all sorts of good ideas for the next phase of The Children's Movement.

We'll sort out those ideas in the days to come, and come to agreement about next steps.

About that proposed debate on children's issues in mid-October: It won't come to pass, but we have established good relationships with both gubernatorial candidates.

Alex Sink, you will recall, said "Yes" to the debate from the very beginning. We waited a long time before finally getting a "No" from Rick Scott...but, in the course of that waiting, I had a long and good face-to-face conversation with him about The Children's Movement and our five issues of first focus.

Both candidates have pledged their commitment to making progress on our issues.

We continue to get strong coverage and support from the media. This week we had strong editorial support for The Children's Movement of Florida from both the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and The Miami Herald. Here's how The Herald ended its editorial about The Children's Movement: "It's about making all of Florida's children a priority and creating a political force to convince lawmakers that this is what the public demands and our economy requires. It's the best news -- and the best hope -- Florida's children have had in a long time."

Amen.

Please stay tuned.