1. Global Leaders Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children Project Goal Elevate the Articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to enhance our systems and advance our field Phase 1: Gauge level of support Phase 2: Launch public awareness campaign Phase 3: Pass Resolution in State of Illinois to adopt UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

2. Global Leaders Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children CHICAGO METRO AEYC 606,166 Number of Illinois children connected to nature 57,000 Our original promise to World Forum 9,000 Served annually through our CE services 1,300 Members from 11 States and Canada 4 th Largest AEYC Affiliate in the Nation 86 Years old 48 Nature Partners

3. Global Leaders Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children Summary of the Rights Unicef Article 1 Definition of the Child Article 2 Non-Discrimination Article 3 Best interests of the child Article 4 Protection of rights Article 5 Parental guidance Article 6 Survival and development Article 7 Registration, name, nationality, care Article 8 Preservation of identity Article 9 Separation from Parents Article 10 Family Article 11 Kidnapping Article 12 Respect for the views of the child Article 13 Freedom of expression Article 14 Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

4. Global Leaders Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children Summary of the Rights Unicef Article 15 Freedom of Associations Article 16 Right to Privacy Article 17 Access to information; mass media Article 18 Parental responsibilities; state assistance Article 19 Protection from all forms of violence Article 20 Children deprived of family environment Article 21 Adoption Article 22 Refugee children Article 23 Children with disabilities Article 24 Health and human services Article 25 Review of treatment in care Article 26 Social Security Article 27 Adequate standard of living Article 28 Right to Education

5. Global Leaders Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children Summary of the Rights Unicef Article 29 Goals of education Children’s education should develop each child’s personality, talents and abilities to the fullest. It should encourage children to respect others, human rights and their own and other cultures. It should also help them learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people. Children have a particular responsibility to respect the rights their parents, and education should aim to develop respect for the values and culture of their parents. Article 30 Children of minorities/indigenous groups Article 31 Leisure, play and culture Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities.

6. Global Leaders Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children Summary of the Rights Unicef Article 32 Child labor Article 33 Drug abuse Article 34 Sexual exploitation Article 35 Abduction, sale and trafficking Article 36 Other forms of exploitation Article 37 Detention and punishment Article 38 War and armed conflicts Article 39 Rehabilitation of child victims Article 40 Juvenile justice Article 41 Respect for superior national standards Article 42 Knowledge of rights Articles 43-54 Implementation measures

7. Global Leaders Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children CHALLENGES Challenges Leadership changes in government and NGO’s Many advocacy agenda items require our attention this year: State’s fiscal Crisis/Tax reform Illinois Early Learning Council policy changes Elevate the Articles of UN Convention on the ROC Issues members raise to the agenda Transparency in Government Confidentiality of Data Evaluation and documentation taking time away from teaching the children Meeting requirement for new bilingual teacher certifications by 2014 Building a Quality Rating System that is equitable

8. Global Leaders Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children SOLUTIONS Introduce ourselves to 51 new members of the General Assembly Survey our Members to prioritize/set policy agenda Questions for GL ** HOW TO STRATEGIES? How to continue to be a strong voice to raise issues to the table without being cast as an obstructionist? How to build coalitions that will not only speak to us, but speak out with us? *fear of consequences/loss of funding *fear of losing their job