Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Two Attend Conference For HIPPY Program

Delores Hodge, coordinator of the Gurdon HIPPY program, Vivian Harris, HIPPY home visitor, and Fadie Gentry, AmeriCorp home visitor, attended the tenth anniversary celebration national USA HIPPY conference, held in Washington, D.C., April 26-30.

Also attending the conference were HIPPY parents, children, para-professionals, coordinators, trainers, state directors and vol-unteers.

The participants shared stories, and experiences that strengthen the bonds that are shared in services to the communities.

Some of the dynamic speakers who participated during the con-ference included Carol Rasco, senior advisor to Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, and director of the America Reads Challenge; and Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund.

Miss Hodge was one of the team members to meet with U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson and an aide to Senator Dale Bumpers. The team members shared with them, stories of dedication with their programs, as well as soliciting their support for child care programs with parental involvement in their children's education.

Other speakers presented during the conference were Miriam Westheimer, president of HIPPY USA, and Dr. Avima Lombard of Hebrew University-Jerusalem, the founder of HIPPY.

Another highlight of the conference was a reception in honor of Senator John Glenn for his commitment to bringing HIPPY to America's children and families.