Children’s advocate and veteran journalist David Lawrence shares his story in a new memoir
After a rewarding, multi-decade career as a reporter, editor and publisher — advocating for the truth — David Lawrence shifted gears, to advocating for children. The former Miami Herald publisher and current chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida describes both paths, and the satisfaction they’ve provided him, in his new memoir, A Dedicated Life: Journalism, Justice and a Chance for Every Child.
In 1996, then-Governor Lawton Chiles asked Lawrence to lead a statewide task force on school readiness. Three years later, Lawrence’s knowledge of childhood development, care and education prompted him to step away from one career to pursue another.
“I decided to ‘retire’ [from the Herald in 1999] to work full-time on helping children succeed in school and life,” he said. “That, in turn, with help from many others, led to The Children’s Trust and to making available free pre-K for every 4-year-old child in Florida.”
David Lawrence is Writing Again
Lawrence has served on the Governor’s Children and Youth Cabinet and twice chaired the Florida Partnership for School Readiness. In 2002 and 2008 he led successful campaigns for The Children’s Trust, a dedicated source of early intervention and prevention funding for children in Miami-Dade County.
He credits his role as a children’s advocate to his wife, Roberta, and Dr. Jane and Gerald Katcher, who supported him in launching The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, which ultimately became The Children’s Movement of Florida in 2010.
It’s a wonder it took him until now to pen his memoir. When friends and colleagues asked when he would write one, he’d always respond with the throwaway line, “When I am old enough.”
Three years ago he began researching and writing about decades of collected memories and life experiences. Recapturing the past and figuring out what might interest others during that journey brought him tremendous joy, he said, especially because he is proud to have led a life of undiminished optimism and idealism.
A Lifetime of Accomplishments
He’s equally thrilled to have debuted his book at the iconic Books & Books in Coral Gables. “I’ve known and admired [Books & Books owner] Mitchell Kaplan for three decades,” Lawrence said. “There is no better bookseller and book lover in my life. His support for this book is a very big deal for me.”
One of Lawrence’s proudest accomplishments was helping to secure a $150-million investment in early-childhood intervention and prevention for The Children’s Trust. It speaks to the goal of providing all children the basics of health, education, nurturing and love.
He and his wife feel privileged to give back and make a difference, which they do by contributing to all sorts of good causes, with matters of children and justice and fairness being front and center.
His favorites right now are being a trustee of Florida A&M University and serving for decades now on the Everglades Foundation and Americans for Immigrant Justice boards.
“Maybe my favorite quotation comes from Horace Mann: ‘Be ashamed to die before you have won some battle for humanity.’”
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This story was originally published October 29, 2018 at 10:10 PM.