Latest news with #ACEs
Associated Press
11-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
First 5 California and First 5 San Diego Announce Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Action with Family Event
First 5 California and First 5 San Diego hosted a joint event today to commemorate Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Action 2025 'The Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Actions is a reminder that our communities thrive when we invest early and intentionally in our littles and families.'— Alethea Arguilez, Executive Director of First 5 San Diego SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, May 10, 2025 / / -- First 5 California and First 5 San Diego hosted a joint event today to commemorate Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Action 2025 as a statewide initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the critical importance of early childhood development and the need to ensure every child in California has the strongest possible start in life. This initiative coincides with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 67 by Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego) declaring May 10, 2025 to be 'Stronger Starts for Children Day' in California. The Stronger Starts campaign calls attention to the lasting impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress response (TSR), while promoting the power of safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments in helping children grow, learn, and thrive. A recent CDC study showed that 63% of U.S. adults reported at least one ACE. Additionally, ACEs account for a total annual economic burden of $14.1 trillion, or $1.5 trillion every year in California alone. The Statewide Day of Action invites communities, leaders, and families to unite around a shared commitment to supporting children during their foundational years. 'The Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Action isn't just a one-day event, it is the beginning of a movement that champions the importance of early childhood development,' said Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, Executive Director of First 5 California. 'When we unite in purpose and raise awareness, we send a powerful message: every child in California deserves to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment. We thank First 5 San Diego for their partnership in engaging local families on this important movement.' Today's event included participants and members of the public potting sunflower seeds with their children, encouraging bonding and relationship building to fight the harmful effects of ACEs and prevent toxic stress response. 'The Stronger Starts Statewide Day of Actions is a reminder that our communities thrive when we invest early and intentionally in our littles and families,' said Alethea Arguilez, Executive Director of First 5 San Diego. 'From raising awareness about the lifelong impacts of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress, to promoting simple, joyful moments, like planting a seed with your child, we are building a culture that prioritizes safety, connection, and support in the early years. First 5 San Diego is proud to stand alongside First 5 California in this statewide call to action to give every child the strongest start possible.' Together, First 5 California and First 5 San Diego continue to lead efforts across the state and in San Diego County to equip families, educators, and caregivers with the tools and knowledge they need to nurture healthy development and prevent the long-term impacts of early adversity. To learn more about the Stronger Starts campaign, visit About First 5 California First 5 California was established in 1998 when voters passed Proposition 10, which taxes tobacco products to fund services for children ages 0 to 5 and their families. First 5 California programs and resources are designed to educate and support teachers, parents, and caregivers in the critical role they play during a child's first five years--to help California kids receive the best possible start in life and thrive. For more information, please visit Stacey Reardon Change Craft LLC +1 9165023799 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Zawya
08-04-2025
- General
- Zawya
Africa's Higher Education Centers of Excellence: Celebrating a decade of transformative journey in revolutionizing Africa's contribution to global research and innovation
About 500 participants, including more than 80 Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACEs), policy makers, higher education leaders, industry experts, and development partners have gathered in Accra, Ghana, from April 7 to 9, for a three-day celebration marking the tenth anniversary of the ACE program, a transformative journey in Africa's higher education. This milestone recognizes a decade of strengthening Africa's higher education, fostering regional integration, improving industry linkages and driving meaningful impact on Africa's development. Participants will seize the opportunity to share success stories, discuss emerging challenges, and engage stakeholders in charting a future where Africa's higher education sector continues to build on its current gains and scales its contributions to the continent's economic growth and social development. The celebration of this key milestone is marked by the presence of His Excellency John Mahama Dramani, the President of the Republic Ghana, who presided the opening ceremony. ' The ACE Program has emerged as a model of distinction, fostering innovation, nurturing world-class expertise, and strengthening institutional capacities in critical sectors,' said His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama. ' The ACE journey is a reminder that the future of higher education in Africa –and indeed globally—does not lie in working alone. It lies in uniting our efforts to unlock talent, transfer knowledge, and build a resilient workforce to drive sustainable development across Africa '. Over the past decade, the Program has trained the next generation of Africa's highly-skilled workforce, upskilled the existing workforce and significantly transformed scientific research in higher education across Africa, establishing over 80 ACEs in more than 50 universities across 20 countries, and enrolling more than 90,000 students, including 7,650 PhDs and 30,200 master's degree students, with 32% women. The program has raised teaching and learning standards through equipping modern facilities with cutting-edge technologies; and has met global benchmarks in academic excellence with over 130 internationally accredited programs and more than 600 nationally accredited programs. Additionally, the ACEs have developed solutions and innovations, with more than 10,350 internationally peer-reviewed publications tailored to Africa's and global challenges. The ACEs are distinguished by their regional specialization, taking advantage of economies of scale, fostering cross-border collaborations among universities, and bringing students from various countries together to undertake research in specific regional issues, including in agriculture, ICT, energy, engineering, environment, health, mining, transport and logistics, urban development, water, etc. Speaking about the future of the Program, President Mahama declared: ' The prospects for the ACE Program are bright. The demand for research-led solutions, skilled professionals, and regionally relevant innovations continues to grow across the continent. By aligning academic work with national and regional development goals, and by fostering innovation-driven partnerships, we can properly position the centers to remain vibrant and impactful well into the future '. ' The global development challenges we face today, with the confluence of interconnected crises ranging from environmental challenges, health pandemics, to economic instability and geopolitical tensions, call for strategic investment and innovative solutions, with human capital development at the forefront,' said Ousmane Diagana, World Bank's Vice-president for Western and Central Africa. ' The ACE Program has laid the foundation for a knowledge-driven economy, and we must double our efforts to continue the transformation they have started. Let us continue to empower Africa's brightest minds to learn, lead, innovate, and drive our continent's transformation from within.' The ACE Program is a flagship regional program launched in 2014. It is the first large-scale World Bank-funded regional project in the higher education sector in Africa, with a total financing of $657 million. The program also benefitted from a $72 million co-financing from the French Development Agency, AFD. Its regional coordination and knowledge-sharing activities are implemented by valued partners, including the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA). ' The ACE program has significantly transformed higher education across Africa, equipping institutions with the resources, capacity, and networks needed to drive world-class research and innovation,' said Professor Olusola Oyewole, Secretary General of the AAU. ' It has proven to be a model for regional collaboration, fostering knowledge exchange and research excellence across borders. As we celebrate ten years of impact, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening Africa's higher education ecosystem and, we are also presented with an opportunity to invest in Africa's higher education to sustain and expand the ACE accomplishments.' For Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA): ' The program has been a catalyst for transformative change in East and Southern Africa, driving innovation, fostering university-industry collaborations, and empowering future leaders (especially women) through scholarships, incubation centers, research and innovation, and capacity building. Its impact on higher education, regional integration, and development underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in shaping Africa's sustainable future which lies in its capacity to innovate, educate, and collaborate. The African Higher Education Centers of Excellence have been and will continue to be central to this vision." The three-day event is co-organized by the government of Ghana, the Association of African Universities, and the Inter-University Council for East Africa, in collaboration with the World Bank. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
