This past year, media partners from ideastream, Cleveland.com, and The Plain Dealer with support from PNC Bank did a series of stories on the first 2,000 days of a child’s life. Research shows 90% of a child’s brain develops during this crucial time period and these Cleveland media outlets believed it was important to explore early childhood issues in depth.

Stories focused on how to find a high-quality preschool, what to look for in a high-quality preschool, why preschool costs so much, and how families can afford it. The series wrapped up on November 14^th with a Cleveland Connects panel discussion featuring two members of the Cleveland Early Childhood Compact— Eric Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Dr. Thea Wilson, Vice President for Children and Families at the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland—along with Sharon Sobol Jordan, Chief of Staff, Cuyahoga County and Dr. Akram Boutros, President and Chief Executive Officer of The MetroHealth System. This final Cleveland Connects panel along with the other events are available on ideastream’s website and can catch up on all of Cleveland.com’s coverage on their website.