Building and expanding diverse coalitions was the focus of the second annual Parent Leadership Institute held Feb. 4-5 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing.

“People really wanted to learn how to build and sustain their coalitions, and also how to diversify them,” said Bryn Fortune, Director of Parenting Leadership for the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, which hosted the event. “I think people got what they needed.”

Keynote addresses at the beginning and end of the institute highlighted the event, which was attended by 180 Great Start Collaborative directors, Parent Liaison coordinators and involved parents.

The event also featured the presentation of a white paper by Michigan’s Children on how the next governor and incoming legislators can rebuild the economy by maintaining the state’s investment in early childhood programs. Read the full white paper: Investing in Young Children: The First Step on the Path to Economic Prosperity in Michigan. (PDF)

Dr. Pennie Foster-Fishman, a professor of psychology at Michigan State University, opened the conference with a talk titled “The Art and Science of Engaging Your Constituency for Impact.”

Foster-Fishman said an individual’s attitudes and beliefs determine if they want to get involved with coalitions. If they believe they should get involved and can get involved, they are most likely to engage.

"This mindset is what matters most. You can build a coalition, but if (potential joiners) don't believe they have the skills to contribute, they'll stop coming. If you've never had your voice heard, you're saying to yourself you're not valuable."

Andy Heller blogs live from Dr. Foster-Fishman's presentation

Dr. Melanie Morrison, executive director and founder of Allies for Change, and Monique Savage, director of counseling services for Adrian College, closed the institute by echoing those comments.

Both explored qualities of authentic relationship-building such as trust, risk-taking, mutual responsibility and the acceptance of tension that is a necessary component that leads to growth.

In between those bookends, Judy Samelson, chief executive officer of ECIC, roused the room while talking about the potential budget cuts early childhood will face in the difficult fiscal year 2011 state budget.

Between them, she said, the Great Start Collaboratives and the Parent Liaison coalitions, represent 17,000 people across the state, a huge advantage that other advocacy groups don’t enjoy when discussing spending priorities with legislators.

"If we can't make something happen on this, shame on us,” said Samelson. “It’s time for us to kick some proverbial backside on this issue.”

Andy Heller blogs from Samelson's presentation here.

Following the conference, Fortune said she was pleased by the emphasis on diversity-building. “We have lots of room for improvement on that,” she said. Making local groups “look” like the communities they represent is key.

“We’re talking about economic diversity, gender, geographical, racial, disability,” she said. “We know the collaborative and coalitions are much richer than how they are now.”

-- Andy Heller