The sixth annual Star Power was actually the first annual Star Power to take a “virtual turn” along with romps down local Main Streets across Michigan.

And the magic was the same – times 35.

Under a bright, blue sky a giant star stood as a symbol of Genesee County’s support for early childhood investment in Michigan.

Actually, 606 people stood for 10 minutes in the shape of a star and in doing so broke the prior world record (according to the Guinness Book of World Records) of 365 people standing in the shape of the star.

In recognition of their outstanding work this year, Jan Shangle, Coordinator for the Ottawa County Great Start Collaborative Coalition, Mary Manner of the Traverse Bay Area Great Start Collaborative and Jamina Tepley of Oakland County Great Start Parent Coalition were awarded the state’s top “Fierce Heart” award for young children by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

In recognition of their outstanding work, this year the Kent County Great Start Parent Coalition was named the state’s top “Fierce Heart” organization for young children by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

Actress and autism-rights activist Holly Robinson Peete stirred and charmed a large crowd at the “Living with Autism Workshop” in Troy with her compelling personal story of raising a child with autism when few knew what to make of the disorder.

“It was a really difficult, dark time,” she said upon learning of her son’s diagnosis in the late ‘90s.  R.J., the eldest son of her four children with former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, is now 14. “Yes, your son has autism,” she recalled her pediatrician saying. “And here’s a whole list of things your son will never do.”

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The Early Childhood Investment Corporation was founded in 2005 to be the state's focal point for information and investment in early childhood in Michigan and to build a state-wide system of programs and supports for young children and their families.

Fifty-five Great Start Collaboratives serve as the local infrastructure for the Great Start system. Their members are the state’s knowledge leaders and change agents for young children and their families.

Seventy Great Start Parent Coalitions serve as the passionate local volunteers who provide education to community and state leaders about the importance of investing in young children.

Nine Regional Resource Centers anchor the Great Start Child Care Quality Project for Michigan.  In addition, CONNECT is Michigan’s online Early Learning Resource for key information about quality child care and child development including licensed child care provider search.