North Carolina Moms Urge Legislators to Build a Strong Foundation for Kids

MEDIA ALERT

June 11, 2010

CONTACT: Gretchen Wright, 202/371-1999

North Carolina Moms Urge Legislators to

Build a Strong Foundation for Kids

Moms and Kids to Build Block Tower Outside Legislative Building to Urge Lawmakers to Remember Kids in Budget Negotiations

North Carolina moms and kids will build a giant tower out of children’s building blocks outside the Legislative Building before delivering individual blocks with messages attached to lawmakers working on the state budget, urging them to build a strong foundation for North Carolina kids:

10:00 AM, Tuesday, June 15

Portico of the North Carolina Legislative Building

W. Lane Street between N. Salisbury and N. Williams St

Raleigh, North Carolina

The block tower will spell out “Build Our Future,” and each block delivered will have a note attached from a North Carolina parent urging legislators to protect programs that give kids a great start and a solid foundation, like Smart Start, NC Health Choice, and infant mortality prevention programs. MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground grassroots organization for moms and everyone who has a mom, generated the messages through e-outreaches to its North Carolina members.

In the upcoming closed-door negotiations, North Carolina legislators will be considering proposals to cut the budget for several children’s programs, including Smart Start and NC Health Choice. MomsRising and its allies are urging the legislature to continue funding those programs which are so critical to helping children get a good start in life.

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MEDIA NOTE: MomsRising North Carolina Chapter Leader Beth Messersmith will be on-site and available for comment.

MomsRising.org is an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all families in the United States. MomsRising is working for paid family leave, flexible work options, affordable child care, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes so many mothers. MomsRising also advocates for healthcare for all, toxic-free environments, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families.