Chicago Music Legend Ella Jenkins to be Honored by Chicago Metro AEYC

Chicago music legend and First Lady of Children's Music Ella Jenkins will receive the Lifetime Achievement Opening Minds Award at a private reception in Chicago on January 23^rd for her contributions to and advocacy in music Education for children. The Award will be bestowed by Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children (Chicago Metro AEYC), a leader in early care and Education services for young children ages birth through age eight and coincides with the opening of its annual Opening Minds Conference attended by 5,000 educators and early care professionals.

Through her music, Jenkins has dedicated her life to making this world a better place for children and has achieved international stature as a pioneer and leader in the children's educational music industry. She presently has a collection of award-winning audio and video releases and her children's songs are part of educational curriculum's spanning the globe. At The Young age of 88, Chicago-based Jenkins still has the whole world in her hands, continuing to bring millions of children the joy of music; her new CD "Moving with Ella Jenkins," will be released Tuesday, January 29 by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (her 33rd title recorded by the organization).

"We are forever grateful to Ella Jenkins, a pioneer in music Education and recordings for young children, who has truly changed the course of so many lives, both young and old," says Gail Conway, CEO of Chicago Metro AEYC. "For her long standing commitment and advocacy in the field of music and early childhood Education across the globe and as a former Service to Young Children's Award Honoree of Chicago Metro AEYC, it is our great pleasure to now bestow her with our first 'Lifetime Achievement Award'."