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EPIC Keynote Address a Call to Action
 On the evening of November 1, 2011, EPIC hosted its 3rd Annual Business Event in Early Childhood Investments, an event highlighting the importance of early childhood for future success, and to inspire an early childhood movement in Colorado.
David Lawrence, retired publisher of the Miami Herald and Chair of Florida's Children's Movement, spoke to approximately 150 business leaders and advocates about Florida's successful children's movement, and outlined why focusing on early childhood is the right thing to do for our children, our economy, and our country's future.
In his speech, Mr. Lawrence quoted the book Disrupting Class by Harvard professor Clayton Christensen: "A rather stunning body of research is emerging that suggests that starting...reforms at kindergarten, let alone in elementary, middle or high school, is far too late. By some estimates, 98 percent of education spending occurs after the basic intellectual capacities of children have been mostly determined."
He also summarized a body of early childhood research: "We know that 90 percent of brain development occurs during the first five years of life. We know that those are the years that set the tone and path for all of life. We know from significant longitudinal research that a dollar spent wisely up front in a child's life has a return of perhaps seven dollars or more that won't need to be spent on police and prosecution and prison - and the billions that are spent in America on remedial education."
Further, he cited a recent New Yorker magazine article quoting Dr. Jack Shonkoff, the nationally known professor of pediatrics at the Harvard Medical School. He says: "We now know that adversity early in life cannot only disrupt brain circuits that lead to problems with literacy, it can also affect the development of the cardiovascular system and the immune system and metabolic regulatory systems, and lead to not only more problems learning in school but also greater risk for diabetes and hypertension and heart disease and cancer and depression and substance abuse."
Mr. Lawrence invited the audience to view this video (click here) of children pleading with adults to "invest in me".
According to Lawrence, the past decade of work in Florida has seen success. In 2002, Florida voters passed a state constitutional amendment requiring universal availability of free voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 4-year-olds. Implemented in 2005, current enrollment exceeds 166,000.
Also in 2002, Miami-Dade voters approved an independent special district, a dedicated funding source for children entitled "The Children's Trust." The vote was 2:1 in favor. This special district funds four major goals or results that The Children's Trust seeks to achieve in collaboration with community partners: children are healthy physically and emotionally; supported by safe, nurturing families and communities; ready to succeed when entering school; and succeeding in school and society.
Currently, the Children's Movement of Florida has identified five issues they will support and advocate for in the future:
- Simpler, fully affordable policies in any economic time.
- A targeted focus on five key issues - health insurance for all children, screening and treatment for children who may have special needs, improving Florida's voluntary pre-kindergarten program, high-quality mentoring programs, and high-quality parent skill-building.
- A public education component focused on early literacy (pre-kindergarten to third grade).
- Collaboration with local partners to engage in targeted outreach and enrollment in Florida KidCare.
In closing, Mr. Lawrence provided a call to action to the leaders in the audience:
"You are leaders with so much experience in leading. You build upon so much. Just imagine what you could still do...what you and we must do.
The very future of our country depends on what you are embarking upon.
The case I have made is in the self-interest of Colorado. You are blessed with many advantages. But you can never fulfill your potential for a fully skilled work force and a safe, secure Colorado of real opportunity until you invest in a vision that embraces the practical imperatives of giving all children the best chance to become contributing adults."
Click here to read David Lawrence's full speech. | 
Gregory J. Anton, a founding EPIC CEO Roundtable member, was recently sworn in as Chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for 2011-2012. The AICPA has nearly 370,000 members in 128 countries, including CPAs in business and industry, public accounting, government, education, student affiliates, and international associates.
