Milk Party on campaign for Florida's children

In August 2008, when the economy was beginning to collapse and residents were worried about higher property taxes, 86 percent of Miami-Dade voters opted to renew their commitment to the Children's Trust, which subsidizes a broad spectrum of programs and services for thousands of children in the community.

Given the overwhelming support, a group of civic leaders and children's rights advocates agreed that there was a lot more potential to invest and do better not only for children in Miami-Dade but for all of children in Florida.

On Monday -- after numerous meetings, polls and focus groups -- the recently-formed Children's Movement of Florida will announce its first state campaign, dubbed Milk Party, aimed at educating political, business and civic leaders, as well as parents, about the urgent need to make the children's well-being and education the state's highest priority.

``Most people do not know that 90 percent of a child's brain develops by the age of five'' said David Lawrence Jr., president and co-chair of the movement. ``That's why the early years are so crucial for investment''.

Among the basic pillars of the movement are: high-quality child care, high quality pre-kindergarten, parental skill-building and health insurance for all children.

Lawrence said that all indicators place Florida -- the fourth largest state in the nation -- among those trailing in children's welfare and education: one quarter of public high-school students do not graduate and one of every five children lacks health insurance.

``If people knew how investment in early childhood changes a child's life, they would insist that elected leaders change their priorities,'' said Lawrence, who also chairs the Early Childhood Initiative Foundation of Miami. ``This is what we are trying to do.''

To carry out this first phase, the movement has raised $1 million from private donors. No tax dollars will be used during any phase of the project. Its 27-member Steering Committee includes Bob Butterworth, former attorney general and secretary of the Department of Children and Families; Manny Díaz, former mayor of Miami; Toni Jennings, former Florida's lieutenant governor; Roberto Martinez, former U.S. Attorney and a member of the State Board of Education; and H.T. Smith, a Miami-Dade attorney and civic leader.

The movement has scheduled 15 Milk Party rallies from Sept. 6 to 30, starting in Pensacola all the way down to Key West to rally support for children as a priority. Participants will be treated to milk and cookies.

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