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CONTACT:  Victoria Portugal
VPE Public Relations
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victoria@vpepr.com

ELIZABETH SANCHEZ TO HOST A PLACE OF OUR OWN ON PBS
Childcare Information Series Begins Fourth Season May 5

LOS ANGELES, CA. – Broadcast journalist Elizabeth Sanchez joins the cast of the award-winning PBS childcare information series A Place of Our Own as the host of 50 new episodes beginning
May 5.

Sanchez is the mother of two young daughters who most recently served as anchor and reporter at the ABC affiliate in San Diego. A native of the Los Angeles area, she was previously a CBS national correspondent based in Dallas, and has held anchor/reporter positions at network affiliate stations KYMA-TV in Yuma and KPHO-TV Phoenix, Arizona, and WSOC-TV, Charlotte, North Carolina.

“As a mother and journalist, this assignment represents an exciting and fulfilling stage in my career,” Sanchez said. “It is very gratifying to be part of a program that is making such a meaningful contribution to the development of our country’s greatest resource, our children.”

A Place of Our Own and its Spanish-language companion, Los Niños en Su Casa hosted by Alina Rosario, are produced by KCET/Los Angeles and air over PBS stations nationally as well as on the new PBS Spanish-language digital platform, V-Me. The two series were launched on California PBS stations in 2005 and expanded nationally in 2007. A Place of Our Own programs with Debi Guitierrez, who served as program host for the first three production seasons, will also continue to be broadcast as repeats.

Each episode is a fun and engaging half-hour designed to provide parents and caregivers with insights on how to raise children who are socially and intellectually ready to enter school. The series also illustrates exemplary childcare practices, with segments shot in homes and preschool centers, and demonstrates everyday activities to engage children in learning through play.

Program topics include all aspects of early childhood development, from health and nutrition, to developmental milestones and early identification of special needs. The programs target pre-school learning by addressing early pre-literacy, math, science, and diversity recognition skills.

Sanchez is the recipient of three Associated Press awards and a Golden Mike award.

A native of Los Angeles, she is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach. She resides in San Diego with her husband and two young daughters Julia, three years and Jenna, 17 months.

The programs are funded through the generous support of BP, the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting, and First 5 California.

The programs are accompanied by extensive bilingual websites and hands-on workshops. Searchable by topic, information is available 24/7 at www.aplaceofourown.org and www.losninosensucasa.org, including resource links and message boards fully moderated by experts that enable childcare providers to interact with one another.

A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa are produced by KCET, in association with 44 Blue Productions Inc. The series is produced in association with Sesame Workshop. Stephanie Drachkovitch and Mare Mazur are executive producers. Joyce Campbell is executive in charge of production.

Please check local listings for air times in each market.