Harriet Meyer

"Meyer was a protégé of Irving Harris, a business leader and founder of the Ounce, and joined the organization in 1991. She served on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee that created the Early Head Start program. During her tenure, Meyer helped fight for and secure the passage of Preschool For All, which made Illinois the first state in the country to offer high-quality, voluntary preschool for all 3- and 4-year-old children, while also providing services for at-risk infants and toddlers. Meyer co-chairs the Illinois Early Learning Council, the first coordinating council for young children to be housed in an Illinois governor's office."