United Way of Lancaster County will hold its next free, virtual "Conversation About OUR Community" from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12.
Rebecca O'Shea, advocacy engagement coordinator with United Way of Pennsylvania, will lead off with a presentation on the state of low-wage households in Pennsylvania, based on the United Way's ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data, and on female labor-force participation.
Kevin Ressler, president and CEO of the United Way of Lancaster County, will then moderate a Q&A with a panel comprised of area leaders and advocates for early childhood education.
The discussion will cover childcare and the staffing crisis, including ways to get parents and grandparents back to work, appropriate wages for childcare workers, early learning initiatives through Start Strong PA and their importance and the value of Pre-K for PA.
The panelists include:
- Stacie Blake, CEO, YWCA Lancaster
- Steve Doster, Pa. State Director, Mission: Readiness and ReadyNation, Council for a Strong America
- Kimberly Early, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children
- Tyrone Scott, Director of Government & External Affairs, First Up
- State Rep. Mike Sturla, Democratic Chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee
The event will be livestreamed on Zoom. To register, click here. If you have questions or concerns, email events@uwlanc.org.
(Editor's Note: This article was updated Nov. 5 to add Ressler and Blake and to note the new start time and the change of O'Shea's role from moderator to presenter.)
