“Step up for Kids” Today - West Virginia Through the Eyes of a Child
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September 16, 2008
Charleston, WV – It's all about the kids today in West Virginia. "Step up for Kids" is a national public awareness campaign that focuses on issues of importance to children and their families.
It's also a way to urge political candidates to focus on these topics. The idea is to give the next generation a fair opportunity to succeed in life--and to prompt state and national leaders to discuss details of how they intend to make it happen.
Jim McKay, state coordinator for the group Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia, says children's issues are surprisingly wide-ranging. They include poverty, health care, foster care, juvenile justice and education. The goal of the event, he explains, is to encourage candidates to do more for kids than just "kiss the babies" on the campaign trail.
"We want politicians to really be specific with what their goals are for ensuring a brighter future for West Virginia's children. Overwhelmingly, the public feels that these issues are important, and they want to hear candidates discussing their plans for issues that affect children."
West Virginia's First Lady, Gayle Conelly Manchin, will speak at the event today in Charleston, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences. "Step Up for Kids" events are taking place in 48 state capitols today.