Her unrelenting commitment to representing the needs of the most vulnerable people in her district and throughout the State of California, along with her ongoing work to expand access to early learning opportunities has earned California Assemblymember Akilah Weber (79th District) Parents as Teachers’ coveted Jack Tweedie Human Services and Early Learning Champion Award.
Parents as Teachers is a program that connects parents and caregivers with trained professionals who make regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years, from pre-natal through kindergarten, to help with early childhood education and parenting skills.
Affectionately known as the Tweedie Award, the accolade is named for Jack Tweedie, the long-time director of the Children and Families program at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). It is presented at Parents as Teachers’ annual conference to a state influencer who has demonstrated a special commitment to early childhood development and home visiting.
“It is our honor to be recognized with the Jack Tweedie Human Service and Early Learning Award,” said Weber. “I want to thank Parents as Teachers for acknowledging the work that is so dear to my heart. This recognition further fortifies my resolve to encourage and support early learning opportunities for young children and their families.”
Tweedie was a renowned expert and leader on state policies affecting children and families. He also served on the Parents as Teachers’ board of directors and as chair of the Policy and Advocacy Committee for a combined seven years, until he lost his battle with cancer in early 2014.
The award was first presented in 2016 to Alaska House Minority Leader, State Rep. Chris Tuck. Since then, it has been presented to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, Arizona State Sen. Kate Brophy-McGee, Missouri State Rep. Kip Kendrick, Colorado Sen. Rhonda Fields and Former First Lady of Idaho and former Parents as Teachers Board Chair Patricia Kempthorne. Last year Stephanie Hilferty of the Louisiana General Assembly received the award.
Parents as Teachers President and CEO Constance Gully said Weber’s support of early learning and her staunch commitment introduced legislation to protect patient access to prescription medications and to improving the lives of children and families in California makes her an exceptional recipient of the Tweedie Award.
“As a dedicated medical professional, educator, and community activist, Rep. Weber has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service and has made remarkable contributions to the well-being of families. Those attributes and the tireless work she’s doing to enhance public health, promote education, and advocate for community welfare make her an exceptional recipient of our most prestigious award,” Gully said. “We are honored to present her with it.” she’s an agent of change and we’re grateful for her dedication.”
Around 2,000 early childhood development experts recently gathered at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina for the 2024 Parents as Teachers International Conference. They met to enhance their professional knowledge of parenting through home visiting. The four-day conference featured discussions on trends in home visiting, community engagement, collaborations and partnerships, diversity, equity and inclusion, health and wellness, parenting, and child education.
Each year, as part of its social responsibility initiative, Parents as Teachers makes a point to give back to the city that hosts its annual conference. It does so by choosing a local nonprofit to support through a fundraising effort. This year, Parents as Teachers has partnered with Promises 2Kids, a San Diego nonprofit serving foster children from the moment they enter foster care through adulthood.
Accepting the Jack Tweedie Human Services and Early Learning Champion Award on behalf of California Assemblymember Akilah Weber is Jesse Brown, field representative for Weber’s office. He is joined on stage by from left Parents as Teachers Board of Directors Chair Dr. Mark Ginsberg, along with the organization’s President and CEO Constance Gully and former board chair Patricia Kempthorne. Photo by Mary Sue Gee.
About Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families, and children that are healthy, safe, and learning by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals who make regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years in life, from pregnancy through kindergarten. The internationally recognized evidence-based home visiting model is backed by 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Parents as Teachers currently serves nearly 180,000 families in all 50 U.S. states, 115 Tribal organizations, six other countries, and one U.S. territory. Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc., is a non-profit organization headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.