Each Child. Every Community.

Step Up and Act for Children event highlights the needs of North Carolina’s children and calls on lawmakers to invest in children.

Advocates, parents, children, service providers and concerned community members will call on lawmakers at the local, state and federal levels to Step Up for children by investing in crucial programs and services that protect the health, safety, education and financial security of North Carolina’s children.

A children’s demonstration at the Old Capitol building will be followed by a brief press conference, then a children’s march.

Who: Action for Children North Carolina, the North Carolina Pediatric Society, the Covenant with North Carolina’s Children, N.C. MomsRising are sponsoring the event.

Confirmed speakers:

• David Tayloe, Jr., MD, Goldsboro pediatrician and immediate past-president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, will address the importance of investing in children’s health
• Jaqwon Dancy, a 17-year-old youth who was involved in the adult criminal justice system, will tell his story
• Beth Messersmith, a Durham mother of two and member of NC MomsRising, will speak from a parent’s perspective on the importance of continuing to build a strong foundation for our children’s future especially in a tough economy
• The Rev. Lorraine Ljunggren, Rector at St. Marks’ Episcopal Church, will give a benediction
• All candidates running for federal office in North Carolina have been invited to attend.

Parents, children, advocates, service providers, policymakers, candidates for office and concerned community members are all invited to attend.

Where: South side, Old Capitol grounds, where Fayetteville St. intersects with Morgan St., downtown Raleigh. Rain location: Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough St., downtown Raleigh.

When: Sunday, October 10, from 1:30-2:30. Speakers will be available before the event (1-1:30) and after the press conference (2:20-2:45) for comment, media interviews.

Why: In North Carolina…

… 1 in 5 children lives in poverty.
… 1 in 11 children has no health insurance.
… 2 in 3 fourth-graders are not proficient in reading.
… 3 in 10 students won’t graduate high school with their class.
… 15,000 children were abused or neglected in 2007.
… 25 of them died.