Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

At least three national/federal organizations or communities of practice that appealed to you and why you chose them

·      The National Governing Board of NAEYC – Although this organization is far from new to me I remain dedicated to its mission and would like to contribute my expertise and my passion for the field to further advance that mission.  I reached a personal goal of being on the 2014 ballot for the NAEYC Governing Board.  Next time I would like to be elected.

·      The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership – I would like to be able to attend the 2015 National Leadership conference presented by the McCormick Center.  The conference is an opportunity to “meet national experts, learn new skills, and gain the knowledge you need to be more effective in your leadership role. Equally important is the opportunity you’ll have to network with others who are doing similar work and experiencing the same challenges you do” (http://mccormickcenter.nl.edu/professional-development/national-leadership-conference/).  I believe the learning and networking possibilities would add to my personal community of practice and expertise.

Buffet Early Childhood Fund – I am inspired by this organization, specifically the Alliance for Early Success, and would like to learn more about them, the work they do and perhaps ways to get involved professionally.  Here is some information from their website.

Established in 2005, the Buffett Early Childhood Fund is committed to establishing a more level playing field for all children as they enter kindergarten — a goal that should be a given in any society that values equal opportunity.

In partnership with other funders, we seek to redefine "education" to encompass the first five years of life and learning through an integrated strategy to invest in:

·      Practice, through Educare schools in the nationwide Educare Learning Network

·      Policy, through the Alliance for Early Success and the First Five Years Fund

·      Knowledge, through the Harvard Center on the Developing Child (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the National Forum on Early Childhood Program Evaluation) and the work of Nobel Laureate in Economics James Heckman.

(http://www.buffettearlychildhoodfund.org/index.html)

Job opportunities (currently available or not) that interest you

Working as a member of the Goffin Strategies Group.  “Goffin Strategies Group is dedicated to strengthening early childhood education's ability to provide effective programs and services for young children through leadership, systems, and capacity development. Results are achieved through customized consultation, including design, facilitation, and implementation of multi-stakeholder change initiatives, documents that analyze and promote understanding of complex issues, and strategy development.

The collaborative and results-oriented approach of the Goffin Strategy Group mobilizes people and organizations to become focused in intent and action” (https://sites.google.com/site/goffinstrategygroup/Goffin-Strategy-Group-Homepage).

Skills and experience you would need to competently fulfill each of these roles

To participate in and fulfill any of the above mentioned roles I would need to continue to develop my communication, facilitation, and strategic planning skills.  I would need to remain focused on learning and understanding important policy issues that are affecting young children and their families.  I would need to build my personal community of practice to ensure I would have a network of people who could support me as I learned.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

At least three local or state organizations or communities of practice that appealed to you, and explain why you chose them

Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council – I would like to be on this council because it makes recommendations to the Governor based on needs assessments regarding the effectiveness of services, programs and activities affecting early childhood development.   I believe this would be a powerful way to contribute to the well being of Wyoming’s young children and families.

Wyoming Early Childhood Association (WYECA) – the state affiliate of NAEYC.  WYECA is involved in professional development and advocacy activities that promote the well being of young children and families.

Teton County Systems of Education – this organization is a collaborative group that is focused on creating a community where all children enter adulthood prepared to be a positive contributing member of society. 

Equipoise Fund – Their mission is “to energize, enrich and encourage the vision, voice and visibility of the women and girls of Wyoming” (http://equipoisefund.org/about-us/).  They do this through grants, initiatives and partners, and by creating, conversing and—most importantly—celebrating positivity.  Their work is rooted in social equity and social justice and they delight in helping the women and girls of Wyoming elevate their roles in their communities and in the state.  Several of their initiatives are focused on girls and adolescents. 

Job opportunities (currently available or not) that interest you

Wyoming Kids First – “an early childhood systems building initiative governed by the Wyoming Early Childhood Partnership (WECP). The WECP was created to improve outcomes for Wyoming’s youngest children through the facilitation of collaborative, systemic actions that impact children’s preparation for success in school and in life. The organization was modeled after North Carolina’s Smart Start program and the North Carolina Partnership for Children” (http://www.wyokidsfirst.org/about-us/).  I would like to work for this organization in any number of positions because they have the ability to lead effective early childhood policy change in Wyoming.

 Skills and experience that you would need to competently fulfill each of these roles

I believe I have the beginnings of many of the skills it would take to fulfill each of these roles.  It is through experiences in these roles and others like them that would allow me to be able to develop my skills further adding to my ability to be an active member of the organization.  Each new role and experience contributes to the next level of competency. 

The Beginning of the End is Just the Beginning

"We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history." 

            Sonia Johnson      (http://www.successories.com/iquote/author/12540/sonia-johnson-quotes/1)

By following the link below you will see the Wordle I created related to the early childhood issues that keep me up at night.

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/7808977/BC_Capstone 

All these issues challenge the field of early childhood and are related to a lack of   Equity in Programs that support young children and their families.

• Low Status of the Early Childhood Workforce 

• Affordability

• Accessibility

• High Quality

Starting today I will begin to pare down these issues and challenges to one focus for my Capstone Project where I feel I can make a difference.... From there I will determine how, with my friends and colleagues, I can change the world!

Profile of a Volunteer

           My Grandmother Elizabeth S Guenzel lived her life as a volunteer and philanthropist.  The following two paragraphs extracted from her obituary describe her efforts as she gave her time and energy to help others. 

Betsy spent her time as a community volunteer in both downtown Chicago and in the suburbs.  The Junior League of Chicago, Children’s Memorial Hospital and Hadley School for the Blind where she recorded books on tape were a few of her many activities.  She was a Brownie Troop leader and one Brownie was quoted as saying that “Mrs. Guenzel looked like spinach in her green uniform”.  She was also a cafeteria line volunteer at North Shore Country Day School where her children attended school.

In the 1960s, Betsy met Joyce Myers, a Special Education teacher at the Hibbard School in Chicago, at a course where Joyce was lecturing.  Betsy was very interested in volunteering in Joyce’s classroom for emotionally disturbed children but she needed to complete a course that was given for graduate students at The Institute for Psychoanalysis.   Although she had not finished college, she was able to use her volunteer work and her life long interest in psychology as “life credits” for entrance into the course.  Upon completion of the two-year course, Betsy worked as a volunteer four days a week in Joyce’s classroom for four years and then part time for another two years after her husband’s retirement.

When I was a senior in high school I was able to participate in an internship program and also volunteered in Joyce Myers's classroom for three weeks.   It was at this time I truly understood the role my Grandmother had played as a volunteer to support these children with diverse needs daily.  Her commitment to the work and the families was unsurpassed.

Often people identify an area where they may want to contribute their time and energy, but do not pursue it because it is too difficult.  My Grandmother recognized she wanted to help the children in Joyce Myer’s classroom, but she had an enormous hurdle to over come and had to participate in two years of training before she could enter the classroom.  Instead of walking away she faced the challenge and with tenacity reached her goal.  As an advocate for the well being of young children and families I am often faced with challenges, but  my Grandmother’s example has taught me I must face forward and stay the course.  It will be worth it in the end!

Using Social Media To Get Connected

              I am a social media user.  I have a Facebook account, a Twitter account and I have been blogging as a Walden University student.  I am a comfortable Facebook user, a novice Tweeter and I am becoming a fan of blogging. 

            This week is the celebration of the Week of the Young Child.  Everyday this week I have used Facebook and Twitter to remind the world of all the reasons I can think of to support programs and policies that focus on the well being of young children and families.  I have shared and re-tweeted posts from NAEYC and other like-minded organizations and I am now writing about it on my blog.  I have gotten positive responses from friends and acquaintances form all across the nation, some whom I did not expect to be interested.  Maybe I have engaged a new ally.  

            I think social media is a great advocacy tool especially for informal messages, alerts, reminders, updates, and links to articles with more information.  I think it reaches a diverse and endless audience.  It may evoke someone to find out more and become involved in your effort.  I do not think it should be used to replace more formal advocacy work when a formal letter or a personal call or visit is in order.  Social media allows an advocate to reach out further and spread the word.

            I have actually written about this topic on my blog before with mixed reviews from my colleagues.  I look forward to reading their comments and blog posts this week.

Celebrating the Week of the Young

Celebrating the Week of the Young TM

What is The Week of the Young Child? Each year the National Association for the Education of Young Children dedicates a week to recognize the importance of the early years in every child’s life. The Week of the Young Child (WOYC) is a time for communities to recognize that Early Years are Learning Years for young children, and the important role that adults play in the education of the young child.

The purpose of Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families, and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. The Week of the Young Child is also an opportunity for early childhood programs across the country, including child care, Head Start programs, preschools, and elementary schools, to hold activities to bring awareness to the needs of the young children in their communities.

The Week of the Young ChildTM is

April 6-12, 2014

Advocacy Messages

           As I was thinking about how to go about this blog assignment it occurred to me to think about some of the most iconic advocacy campaigns I can remember.  The following are the first two that came to my mind.  For me they have stayed with me since I first saw them when I was a child, and they are still used today.  I think the success of these two messages, and the associated advocacy campaigns, is they are short, catchy and touch your emotions.  The image of the vanishing young man or feeling the responsibility of keeping the forest and wildlife safe from harm are powerful messages.  They are messages that are difficult to ignore!

"The famous quote, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste," was a part of a campaign slogan used by the United Negro College Fund in 1972 and has remained unchanged for more than thirty years. This phrase has become part of the American vernacular and is used widely by lay persons and educators alike to drive home the point of the necessity of education" (Reference.com, 2014).

"The longest running campaign in Ad Council history, Smokey Bear and his famous warning, "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires," was introduced to Americans in 1944. The Forest Fire Prevention campaign has helped reduce the number of acres lost annually from 22 million to 8.4 million (in 2000). Responding to the massive outbreak of wildfires in 2000, the campaign changed its focus to wildfires and Smokey's slogan to 'Only You Can Prevent Wildfires' " (Ad Council, 2013) 

Ad Council. (2013). Fire prevention. Retrieved from: http://www.adcouncil.org/Our-Work/The-Classics/Wildfire-Prevention

Reference.com.(2014). Famous quote a mind is a terrible thing to waste. Retrieved from: http://www.reference.com/motif/history/famous-quote-a-mind-is-a-terrible-thing-to-waste