Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam hosted members of the faith-based community at the Tennessee Residence today for a Nashville meeting of the “First Ladies for Healthy Babies” initiative.
More than 140 women, including close to 70 wives of pastors known as first ladies of the church, attended the luncheon to learn more about the importance of healthy brain development for children and promoting early education in their local neighborhoods in Nashville.
“First ladies of the church and leaders in the faith-based community are a trusted resource for their congregation and have incredible influence within their neighborhoods,” Ms. Haslam said. “They are in a great position to raise awareness for the importance of those first years of life and to help encourage parents to be their child’s first and most important teacher.”
In June 2011, the “First Ladies for Healthy Babies” initiative was launched at the Neighborhood Christian Center in Memphis, where more than 175 pastors’ wives and church leaders gathered.
The initial meeting helped to create a network of First Ladies and faith-based community leaders who promote early education and strengthening Tennessee families.
“There was an incredible turnout at the launch in Memphis last year,” Ms. Haslam said. “I am grateful that this message is continuing here in Nashville.”
Ms. Haslam hopes to continue convening networks of faith-based communities across the state that can support one another as they emphasize the important role parents play in their child’s healthy development toward school readiness.