My Own Capacity

Which issues impacting young children and their families and/or the field of early childhood fuel your passion?

            I have a personal vision that fuels my passion.  My vision is a nation where all children and families have access to affordable high quality early childhood programs.  Understanding my vision is broad and will take the work of many to accomplish, I have spent much time thinking about my strengths and how they can be used to take a small step forward.  As a leader in my state and on the national level, I believe we, as the field of early childhood, must pick ourselves up and lead the necessary changes that must occur to elevate our status and secure the programs and policies to reach my vision.  As I look forward to the completion of my Master’s degree I believe I am prepared to help early childhood workers to see their leadership potential.  I hope to facilitate the advancement of the early childhood field so one day we can truly call ourselves a profession.

                                                           

   

What resources do you have at your disposal that can benefit your advocacy work?

            As I have progressed through my course work it has become obvious to me the human resources I possess.  Through my volunteer work with NAEYC I have become acquainted and built relationships with some of the most important thinkers in our field.  Being able to use them as resources and to work along side them to advocate for change is truly a gift.

              What knowledge, skills, dispositions, and/or talents do you possess that will contribute to your advocacy work?

            One of my greatest skills is my ability to build relationships.  This ability is especially helpful as I work to build bridges and alliances.  Successful advocacy is dependent on the combine effort of all strands of the field of early childhood.  I am able to build respectful, reciprocal and responsive relationships with other advocates so we can help shape the programs and policies necessary to reach my vision.

        In what ways do you hope to grow in order to be a more effective advocate?

            In the end I hope to reach and motivate as many people in the field of early childhood to become the leader I know they can be.  I can picture myself in front of a crowd of early childhood workers sharing my knowledge and passion.  I know that it will take work and small steps and some more confidence, but I can see the growth I have had in my career and know I can keep going so I can actively participate in the elevation of the field of early childhood.