Crookston will host an Early Childhood Summit on Thursday, April 24, emphasizing the Importance of the First 1000 Days of Brain Development. The Summit will take place in Bede Ballroom at the University of Minnesota Crookston from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Gina Gunderson, Early Childhood Coordinator, explains the Summit’s goal. “The goal of the Early Childhood Summit is to increase the number of children prepared to enter Kindergarten,” says Gunderson. “We have done this in the past, through all of our summits and by bringing together all of the early childhood professionals who work with young children and families in our community. They are all invited to attend the event.”
The Summit’s guest speaker is Dr. Michael Georgieff from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Dr. Georgieff is a Professor of Pediatrics, Developmental Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Minnesota. He is also the Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, the Director of the Center for Neurobehavioral Development, and the co-director of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. His research focuses on fetal/neonatal nutrition and brain development, specifically on the effect of early-life iron nutrition on neurocognitive function.
“Those that are attending will get a meal, and then we have Dr. Michael presenting,” said Gunderson. “It’s also a really great opportunity for all of these people who work in our community just to network and have some discussion about what work they do and how we can better support all of the children and families in Crookston.”
Gunderson wanted to thank the sponsors for their help. “Rydell Toyota of Grand Forks has graciously donated some funding, and our Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority, CHEDA, has also funded the event,” says Gunderson. “We are very appreciative that we can continue this great work for our youngest kiddos.”
