News of the Day – One Shawnee Summit

October 9, 2026

Original coverage on the Local Channel 6 WPSD News.

Regional Council Manager, Linda Roberson Poindexter, and Family & Community Engagement Specialist, Chelsi Diles, from Birth to Five Illinois: Region 21 (Franklin, Johnson, Massac, Williamson and Counties) attended the fourth annual One Shawnee Summit where government officials, nonprofits, and community leaders met to discuss the Region’s challenges and how to create actionable change.

True to Birth to Five Illinois’ efforts to continually assess the Early Childhood programs available in each Region, understand what is available versus what local families say their children need, and bring together community members and civic leaders to bridge the gap between what exists and what families need, in this news segment Linda and Chelsi share what they have learned from families about their child care needs.