Business Council of Alabama (5,000) + Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (120=60,000) Alabama School Readiness Alliance (GR, FND, A,E) Alabama Partnership for Children (P/P, 9, R/D)

Planning Started EARLY About six years ago Inclusive – nonprofit, service providers, early childhood experts...and business partners Smart division of labor: early childhoodnational experts advocatesstate leaders business partnersfoundations/funders

Early Childhood Partners Used their body of work for Summit content Nominated business leaders for invitations Previewed and submitted materials, content, and potential speakers Provided oversight – kept us focused on Alabama priorities Attended IF they brought a business partner Included “best practices” Alabama examples

National Experts Very little content is original Pew/PAES provided connections to burgeoning volume of fantastic materials Contacted national leaders for input, looked at previous summits, borrowed from everyone Sought out the most concise “briefs” from an intentional mix of diverse sources Purchased some materials, permission for others, targeted diverse mixture of content

Advocates and Foundations/Funders Were included from the start Asked them to spread the word Used advocacy materials for consistent messaging Sought their input on key leaders to engage, speakers, facilitators, and funding Foundations represented by ASRA and APC, summit partners

State Leaders From public and private sectors Elected and appointed officials (Governor’s Office, Agency Heads) Universities – Early Childhood AND Economics United Way, Manufacture Alabama, AAP, Leadership Alabama, A+ Education Foundation Business leaders with track record of support for early childhood initiatives

Business Partners They did what they do well – connect with the business community Planning – taught us much Site, facility, agenda/activities, food Summit leaders – speakers, session leaders Final review of content, materials Required us to have plan of action for follow- up in place BEFORE the event

Strategic and Focused Set-up – Telluride Principles beforehand Op/eds from all partners, e-blasts, newsletters Planned within the existing framework from business and early childhood perspectives Knew our purpose – more education and awareness, kept the focus on INVESTMENT Start to Finish vision with specific actions Structured for impact – mix of agenda/materials, tabs, visuals, classrooms/full group, science (research) and feelings

Gail B. Piggott, Executive Director Alabama Partnership for Children 1401 I-85 Parkway, Suite A Montgomery, Alabama (for zero to five)