My Role as an Advocate

My journey in the early childhood field began in 2004 as a receptionist for the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Bend. Attached to our organization, we had an early learning center and being the greeter for the entire building, I began to form relationships with the children and their families. I enjoyed seeing and interacting with the children and their families and began to spend more time in the classrooms helping out than answering the phone! At the time, I thought it would be impossible to become a teacher but 4 years later, I received my opportunity!

It is essential to acknowledge and foster advocacy efforts the micro as well as the macro level because there are significant issues that affect the optimal development of children and their families at each level. To be a community leader, it takes dedication and passion to the purpose, communication with stakeholders, organizations, and policymakers. One must be willing and able to connect with those who are directly affected by issues and confident enough in their ability to speak on the behalf of children and families. A community leader must be a believer and participant in life-long learning. Continuously learning about the issues, learning about the field, and learning about oneself as a professional and individual. It takes the resources of the people...meaning partnering with early childhood organizations such as NAEYC, local organizations, governmental agencies such as Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education.

The advice I would give to someone who was interested in taking a leadership role in advocating for young children and their families would be "to be the grain of sand that forms the core of the pearl, you must learn the gentle art of using disagreement about educational practice to your advantage…and you must choose when to stand firm and when not to. Not every issue is worth fighting; not every battle can be won. As an ethical professional, you may have hard choices to make. We urge you stand up for children and to make their well-being your primary concern; to say no when asked to do what is wrong; to insist on speaking what you know to be true; to risk making yourself unpopular; and to give others the courage to do the same. It’s a lot to ask. But it’s the right thing to do, and children need you to do it (Morrison, 2009; Feeney, 2010)"

As an early childhood professional, our goal is to teach young learners life skills that they can build a solid foundation on. It is essential for early childhood professionals to “stand up” for children and their families because “You are influential with your family and friends. They know and trust you and what you tell them about early childhood education and care may be more powerful for them than what they read in the newspaper or see on television. You are influential in your community. The people on your street, in your neighborhood, in your town know you. You are their expert on early childhood education and care, they trust you. You are influential in your local government. You know the friends, families, and associates of the members of your school board, your municipal council, and your state legislature. You represent the opinions and votes of those who elected them. You are as important, or more important, to them than any expert (Feeney, 2010)”.