First 1,000 Days Sarasota County Launches Public Art Campaign “Color the Community”

April 7, 2021 – Sarasota

What pictures come to mind when you think of quality early childhood development? This is the question posed to the community by local organizations committed to increasing access to care for infants and their parents.

First 1,000 Days Sarasota County is a community initiative to improve the health and well-being of babies and families. At the end of 2020, the initiative and its 75 community partners launched a website to empower all parents and caregivers with simple tools proven to promote quality early childhood development.

The initiative partners are now using the power of art to celebrate families and promote local educational resources available to them.  Utilizing free curriculum with fun activities for parents to do with their children and a sidewalk chalk festival, First 1,000 Days Sarasota is encouraging the community to get involved this spring in the “Color the Community” campaign.

The campaign kicked off with the unveiling of three new works of art across Sarasota County: “Swing Out Into the World,” by Laura Pommier at 14212 Tamiami Trail in North Port, its sister mural, “Bubbles,” by Truman Adams, at Forty Carrots Family Center, 1500 S. Tuttle Avenue, in Sarasota; and a traveling artwork, “Making Roots,” being created by Traci Kegerreis, are designed as gateways for young families to learn about resources available to support parents in being their child’s first teacher.

Artists were encouraged to creatively express one or more of the fundamentals of early childhood development, known as “The Basics.”

• Maximize love, and manage stress.
• Talk, sing, and point.
• Count, group, and compare.
• Explore through movement and play.
• Read and discuss stories.

First 1,000 Days Sarasota County is now asking the broader community to follow suit. Children and families can easily get involved by:

1. Creating sidewalk chalk art (or your preferred medium) inspired by The Basics early learning principles:
   1. Maximize love, manage stress
   2. Count, group, compare
   3. Talk, sing, and point
   4. Explore through play and movement
   5. Read and discuss stories
      
2. Posting photos of you and your masterpiece to social media. Tag @First1000DaysSarasota on Facebook and Instagram and use hashtags #First1000DaysSarasota #ColortheCommunity 
   
3. Visiting First1000DaysSarasota.com to sign up for free text tips on The Basics and connect with local resources for parents and young children.

Churches, schools, and other youth-serving organizations can also get involved by spreading the news about the campaign, following the action on Facebook or Instagram, and letting families know about resources at www.first1000dayssarasota.com. 

For more information and to get access to creative marketing materials visithttps://www.first1000srq.com/ or contact Chelsea Arnold at Chelsea-Arnold@smh.com