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NEW YORK For a stateswoman-celebrity whose public life has been a whirl of black-tie galas and glitzy awards ceremonies, Hillary Rodham Clintons event here Tuesday morning was a stark departure.

The prospective 2016 presidential candidate came to an East Harlem classroom, sat beneath crayon posters and alphabet letters and urged Hispanic parents to read and sing to their children to help develop their language skills.

Every child every single child in our country deserves to have a fair chance to live up to his or her God-given potential, Clinton said.

The appearance was tied to the beginning of a multi-year partnership between Too Small to Fail, a charitable initiative that Clinton started last year, and Univision, an influential Spanish-language media company.

Branded in Spanish as Pequeos y Valiosos (Young and Valuable), the campaign will include public-service announcements on Univision encouraging Hispanic parents to help their preschool children better develop their language skills.

Tuesdays event was Clintons first significant appearance outside the paid-speaking circuit and into a more campaign-like environment. The agreement with Univision provides her with a bridge to the nations fast-growing and politically influential Hispanic community.

Early childhood development has been a passion of Clintons throughout her adult life. Since stepping down as secretary of state a year ago, she has leveraged her star power to promote her Too Small to Fail initiative and attract corporate and nonprofit partners.

Bill and I probably took it to an extreme reading to our poor little baby girl, Clinton said. I even sang to her until she developed an ear. We had a little house in Little Rock, and before Id put her to bed Id put her in a rocking chair and read to her. And then Id sing to her. Id sing, Moon River.

And then, Clinton continued, literally when she was about 16 months, she took her little finger, she put it on her lip and she said, No sing, Mommy, no sing.

Clintons appearance here was carefully choreographed. She spoke for about five minutes and aides said she would take no questions from reporters. Journalists were escorted out of the room after the opening remarks so that Clintons conversations with parents and nonprofit advocates could take place in private.

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Hillary Clinton begins partnership with Univision to reach Hispanic parents