Local child advocate from Hannibal selected for statewide Early Care and Education Fellowship

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Denise Damron, a child advocate from Hannibal, was selected to participate in the Kids Win Missouri Early Care and Education Leader Fellowship for 2024-25.

The fellowship was launched in 2022 to give childcare providers, parents and caretakers across the state a voice in the policymaking process and a seat at the table in advocating for policies that impact child and family well-being.

In a press release, Damron said, “I am passionate about kids and creating opportunities for them. It is critically essential that we ensure our youngest community members are provided opportunities to thrive. At the present time, our community is blessed to have some great, quality early childhood opportunities for kids, there’s just not enough of them.”

Damron, the executive director of the United Way of the Mark Twain Area, also is a parent who has experienced firsthand the challenges of accessing quality child care for their children.

She said, “We need to do something about that to ensure all of our youngest community members have safe early childhood opportunities that are affordable for families and accessible for all.” 

The Kids Win Missouri ECE Leader Fellowship engages and activates a statewide network of parents and providers while developing their leadership, policy and advocacy skills. Fellows engage other parents and providers from throughout their region and bring awareness to other regional issues impacting children and families.

“We are excited to announce another incredible group of parents and providers committed to addressing the early care and education crisis facing Missouri children and families,” said Brian Schmidt, executive director of Kids Win Missouri. “In recent years, our fellows have been an integral part of important policy wins to improve early care and education access and affordability.”

The ECE Leader Fellows had their first in-person meeting in Jefferson City in early September during the annual legislative veto session. Fellows will work throughout the fall with community engagement partners to hold regional engagement events with parents, providers and legislators.

Learn more about the fellowship at https://mochampionofchildren.com/fellow-feature.