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

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