The second annual First 2000 Days Summit will take place in Wilmington from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 16 at the First Baptist Activity Center.

The event is free. This year’s summit, organized by local faith leaders, will highlight the effects toxic stress has on the developing brain, especially during the first 2,000 days of life
The Cape Fear Memorial Foundation provided support for the event.

David Tayloe is this year’s keynote speaker. Tayloe is a nationally renowned pediatrician, known for his lasting impact on children across the state, event organizers said.

Following his address, Tayloe will be joined in a panel discussion by speakers including a therapist who works with young children who have experienced toxic stress, a pastor of a church who has made significant investments in early childhood, child care providers and district attorney Ben David. 

Organizers said that certain kinds of stress are normal and are good for children to experience, such as meeting new people, learning how to share and coping with new situations. Toxic stress, however, can include ongoing stress such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse, the lack of presence of a caring adult in their life or extreme poverty.

“We all envision a future where all children grow up healthy and happy. By building on the work we do now and fostering strong partnerships across sectors, we can provide the supports needed to mitigate stressors and enhance resiliency,” Jane Morrow, executive director of Smart Start of New Hanover County, said in a news release.

There are only 2,000 days between the time a baby is born and when that child begins the first day of kindergarten. Experiences during these 2,000 days have a lasting impact on later learning, health and success, event organizers said.

Research shows that high-quality early experiences provide lasting positive results such as higher graduation rates, prevention of violence and crime, job and military readiness, higher earnings and better jobs.

The public is invited to the free event. To register, call 815-3731 or e-mail [email protected].