28
April
2017
|
19:35 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION AT MIA CELEBRATES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The Children’s Movement of Florida partnered with the airport, Early Learning Coalition and award-winning photojournalists to capture special moments between children and adults

On April 27, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD), in partnership with The Children’s Movement of Florida, the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe and three award-winning photojournalists, unveiled Starting Ahead, a first-ever gallery of 25 portraits at Miami International Airport that capture special moments between children and the significant adults in their lives who provide them with educational, economic, and health and wellness support.

Five-time Pulitzer Prize nominee André Chung and Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalists C. W. Griffin and Carl-Philippe Juste photographed the candid portraits in settings that included childcare centers, one family childcare home, a childcare subsidy resource center and a community health center. Located near gate D-31, Starting Ahead is designed to promote and raise awareness for early childhood learning among the thousands of daily passengers in MIA’s Concourse D.

We feel especially proud to host this heart-warming exhibition dedicated to children. It is our hope that these eye-catching, engaging images give our travelers from around the world a greater appreciation for early childhood care givers and educators in our communities.
Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González

Among the 50 airport and community leaders in attendance for the grand opening were: David Lawrence Jr., Founder and Chairman of The Children’s Movement of Florida and former publisher of The Miami Herald; Vance Aloupis, CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida; Pam Hollingsworth, M.Ed., Senior Vice President, Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe.

The Children’s Movement of Florida is a citizen-led, non-partisan movement to educate political, business and civic leaders – and all parents of the state – about the urgent need to make the well-being and education of infants, toddlers and all other children Florida's highest priority.

This exhibit portrays the reality of early learning in Miami - the challenges and the opportunities. My hope is that the beautiful faces and images in Starting Ahead will compel the passers-by to take a minute to read and learn more about the importance of early investment.
Vance Aloupis, CEO of The Children’s Movement

The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring early care and education for children in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Through a variety of affordable and innovative early education and voluntary pre-kindergarten programs, the Coalition serves more than 50,000 children from birth to 12 years old and their families.

The Early Learning Coalition shares in the celebration of childhood on display in the Starting Ahead photo exhibition at MIA. The photographs exemplify the wonders that happen when children are fully engaged with nurturing caregivers in high-quality early education settings.
Evelio Torres, President and CEO of The Early Learning Coalition

To request materials in accessible format, Sign Language Interpreters, CART services and/or any accommodation to participate in any Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) public meetings and events please email the ADA Office at ADAcoordinator@miami-airport.com or call the office in 305-876-7747 five days in advance to initiate your request. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).