Tuesday was Mississippi Early Childhood day at the capitol, and Hattiesburg decided to celebrate the event locally. The Hattiesburg Excel by 5 hosts its annual community leaders breakfast.

If you’re in the mood for some jokes for a cause, a comedy show will be held in Petal to help raise money for the city’s Excel By 5 chapter.

Hattiesburg Excel By 5 is launching a new campaign to encourage families to put cell phones and iPads away during meals or other family activities.

The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and. Forrest County held a Community Literacy Day. The event was the first in two years and put together by the library, Hattiesburg Parks & Recreation, Excel by 5, the Hattiesburg Early Learning Collaborative and United Way.

A fun and interactive Easter event hosted by Excel by 5 along with Beau Rivage and Biloxi High volunteers happened on the Biloxi Town Green today.

The City of Petal recently received its 5th recertification as an Excel by 5 Early Childhood Community. Petal is the one of the longest lasting Early Childhood Communities in the state, having been the first city in Mississippi to receive the designation in 2006.