From July 22nd - 25th in Cincinnati, CDF will convene 3,000 leading researchers, educators, policymakers, practitioners, faith leaders, and advocates--including 1,500 young adult leaders--to help shape a robust national conversation on economic inequality and the urgent needs of childrenand the poor in 2012 and what we can all do to change the odds and change the outcomes for those being left behind. When 16.4 million children are poor, 8.3 million children don't have health care, and a majority of children cannot read or compute at grade level in the fourth, eighth, and 12th grades - we have a growing national crisis that demands an urgent response in these politically volatile and polarized times.
In our first national conference since 2003, we will examine strategies to close off the major feeder systems fueling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline and mass incarceration through sessions that explore critical issues in early childhood development, education, child welfare, community violence, juvenile justice, poverty, child health and nutrition. We will also showcase community building and engagement programs that inspire children, engage parents, and teach social justice through service and civic activism and organizing through faith communities. And we will provide intensive organizing training for more than 1,000 young leaders. Our focus is on inspiring action to close the gaps between what we know and what we do for children and the poor.
Please join us for cutting edge plenary sessions and dozens of compelling workshops as we focus on the latest research and best practices, community building models, and community and youth empowerment strategies to close the gap between what we know works and what we actually do for our most vulnerable - children and the poor.
Register today and add your voice to those of top experts, leading practitioners, and committed activists to help shape a robust national conversation on economic inequality and the urgent needs of children and the poor in 2012 and what we can all do to change the odds and change the outcomes for those being left behind.
For more information or to register, please visit http://www.childrensdefense.org/national-conference/
