RESIST, RENEW, RECOGNIZE! A RECAP OF THIS YEAR’S VOICES FOR CHILDREN
On June 12, hundreds of Children’s Alliance advocates gathered at the Museum of Flight for our annual Voices for Children fundraiser. This year we welcomed Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown as our featured speaker, announced the return of our signature advocacy training program, and celebrated the leadership of our Executive Director Dr. Stephan Blanford.
RESIST
In this current moment, we can think of no better featured speaker than Attorney General Nick Brown. Since taking office, AG Brown has a been a steadfast defender of Washington state’s laws and values, filing 21 (and counting!) lawsuits against the Trump administration. In his keynote address, he spoke to the importance of standing up to the chaotic actions of the federal government, and using our voices to create change.
“But what kind of country are we going to be in the years ahead? That is largely in your hands. It is in your hands because you are the voices in your communities, in your schools, in your neighborhoods. But I believe in all of your voices because I have seen the positive impact that this organization and the people that support it have been giving to this state for years now.”
RENEW
The event program also included an official announcement of the relaunch of Advocacy Camp, our flagship advocacy training program. We were delighted to hear from two former Children’s Alliance leaders, Paola Maranan (former Executive Director) and Jon Gould (former Deputy Director), who spoke about the history of Advocacy Camp and shared memories of its co-founder, Nancy Amidei. The new iteration of the program will be named in her honor: The Nancy Amidei Advocacy Camp. If you are interested in attending a training or finding out more, please contact our Mobilization Manager, Becca Schrack: becca@childrensalliance.org
RECOGNIZE
Finally, we celebrated Dr. Stephan Blanford’s five-year tenure as our Executive Director. Stephan reflected on accepting the role during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading us to significant legislative victories like the Fair Start for Kids Act, and increasing the impact of our work on youth behavioral health. Stephan will leave the organization on July 3, but we know that he will continue working alongside us in the fight for racial justice and a better future for Washington’s kids.
We are grateful to everyone who attended Voices for Children. If you were unable to join us, consider showing your support for our work by making a gift.