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Freeport proclaims National Week of the Young Child; Birth to 5 Illinois previews parent and grandparent supports
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Summary
Mayor Jody Miller declared April through April 18, 2026 as National Week of the Young Child in Freeport. A representative from Birth to 5 Illinois described upcoming Zoom sessions this summer and a July grandparent café to raise awareness of local services for families.
Mayor Jody Miller read two proclamations to the council and attendees, declaring April through April 18, 2026 as National Week of the Young Child and May 2026 as National Travel and Tourism Week in Freeport.
Why it matters: The young-child proclamation highlights the city's emphasis on early-childhood development from prenatal stages through age 8 and encourages residents to support high-quality early-learning programs. Mayor Miller said the proclamation is intended to focus public attention on services for young children and their caregivers.
A representative of Birth to 5 Illinois told the council the organization will host a Zoom community meeting for parents and caregivers in June to walk through a new parent resource website (hosted by United Way) and will hold a grandparent café in July for grandparents raising grandchildren. The presenter urged residents to follow the group's social channels for details and described the sessions as meant to increase awareness of supports across the three-county region.
The tourism proclamation, also read by Mayor Miller, acknowledged the Greater Freeport Partnership's role in promoting tourism and economic development in Freeport and Stephenson County.
Council action and context: Both proclamations were ceremonial and informational; no council votes on policy followed. The clerk reported no members of the public had signed up for public comment. The meeting ended with an adjournment motion that passed by voice vote.
