KINGSTON, R.I. — June 15, 2001 — All children come into the world eager to learn, but their early experiences and environment shape how prepared they are to take advantage of educational opportunities. What do parents, providers, teachers, and advocates need to do to ensure that every child has an early care and education program that will allow him or her to reach their full potential? To answer many of those questions Barbara Bowman, founding faculty member of the Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in Child Development in Chicago, and chair of the “Eager to Learn” report by the National Research Council will speak at the University of Rhode Island on Thursday, June 21, 2001. Her talk at Edwards Auditorium on the Kingston Campus, starting at 10:30 a.m., will address the findings of the council and share what early care and education programs need to prepare all children for positive, productive school experiences. Her presentation is free and open to the public. At the conclusion of her presentation, Bowman will join the Seventh Annual Rhode Island Early Childhood Summer Institute, a 5-day institute being held at the University of Rhode Island Kingston campus, where community teams throughout Rhode Island will work to design community projects centered around the theme of “readiness.” The institute was founded by Diane Horm-Wingerd, URI professor of Human Development and Family Studies, and director of the Child Development Centers. The Summer Institute is a statewide collaboration of the Rhode Island Departments of Education, Human Services, Health, RI KIDS COUNT, Rhode Island Parent Information Network, the URI Cooperative Extension and the URI Family Resource Partnership. For further information, please call Beverly O’Keefe, Family Resource Partnership Director at (401) 277-5244. For Information: Beverly O’Keefe 401-277-5244, Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116