The public is invited to join in a Community Conversation to discuss daycare and early childhood needs in the Liberal community at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, in Room 229 at the Student Union on the Seward County Community College/Area Technical School campus. The event is being sponsored by the Liberal Area Coalition for Families. Light refreshments will be served.

“We have seen a steady decrease in the number of daycare and preschool providers in our community for the last two to three years,” said Sarah Foreman, director of the community coalition. “With the announcement that First Baptist Church would be closing its facilities this summer, I think we’ve reached a critical point where we need to start talking about what’s happening in our community and how do we approach the problem.”

Foreman urges anyone with an interest in daycare and preschool to attend the meeting. “We would like to have representation from parents with young children, Board of Education members, USD480 administration, current daycare providers and individuals or organizations looking at becoming a licensed daycare provider or center.

“We plan to have a facilitated group discussion as well as round table discussions. We ask people to plan to be there for about two hours,” Foreman said. For more information, contact Foreman at 620-655-7177.