That’s why, each year, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) and Save the Children invites advocates from across the country to advocate for policies that benefit kids.
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The Virtual Advocacy Summit was a 4-week experience of dynamic sessions and exciting speakers. The summit culminated in a collective call to our lawmakers to invest in kids.
The summit provided a unique opportunity for our supporters to delve deeper into the issues, receive training from leading experts and act to ensure that matters critical to children’s lives and futures are prioritized by our elected leaders.
Featured Speakers
Chef José Andrés
Twice named to Time’s “100 Most Influential People” list and awarded the 2015 National Humanities Medal by President Obama, José Andrés is an internationally-recognized culinary innovator, New York Times best-selling author, educator, humanitarian, and chef and owner of ThinkFoodGroup.
In 2010, Andrés formed World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that provides smart solutions to end hunger and poverty by using the power of food to empower communities and strengthen economies. Notably, his team served 3.7 million meals to the people of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria and has since delivered more the 14 million meals in the wake of disasters worldwide.
Mayor Steve Benjamin
Since being elected, Mayor Steve Benjamin has made it his mission to create in Columbia the most talented, educated and entrepreneurial city in America. At 29 years old, Benjamin was appointed to Governor Jim Hodges’ cabinet as director of the state’s second largest law enforcement agency, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.
Mayor Benjamin has continued his service to the community in serving on numerous boards for nonprofit organizations such as the Columbia Urban League, Benedict College, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce and as a founding board member of the Eau Claire Promise Zone. He also served as a founding member of Choose Children First and chief legal counsel for Midlands Crimestoppers.
Session Recaps
Session Date:
Thursday, April 30
Fireside Chat with Mark K. Shriver and José Andrés
The 2020 Virtual Advocacy Summit kicked off with a lively chat between SCAN President Mark Shriver and renowned chef José Andrés. Check out what they had to say about wine, advocacy and staying hopeful in challenging times.
Coronavirus knows no borders. It is a global threat and demands a global response. The virus is already having devastating consequences for children. With the pandemic now spreading into some of the world’s poorest countries, there is a real danger that progress made on improving children’s lives will see a reversal, especially for girls and children affected by conflict.
Child care providers and teachers are the forgotten heroes of the COVID-19 crisis, providing an essential service for frontline workers with children during the pandemic. But child care programs as a whole are facing a much larger funding crisis that may lead to programs across the country closing their doors for good. Join our panelists as they discuss how the pandemic is impacting child care programs and what can be done to make sure there is enough child care when America gets back to work.
Our Virtual Advocacy Summit culminates with a Week of Action where advocates from across the country will take collective action to urge members of Congress to prioritize kids during the COVID 19 crisis! Join us to hear from inspiring speakers and to learn how you can participate in our Week of Action.
