My Own Capacity

There are several issues impacting the early childhood field that fuel my passion for the field. One of those issues being the poverty, I work with families regularly that live at or below poverty and I see the impact our program has on their lives. Not only is poverty an issue but so is the fact that universal quality childcare is not being provided in this country.  

As an assistant director I have a lot of resources available to me within our company as well as outside the company to support my advocacy efforts. Within our company we have the opportunity to express our concerns about the early chilhdood field and educational programming, we have company representatives that are involved with government and policy making.  Within the community I am involved with the local smart start agency. Thus far in this course I have also discovered other sourced through the webiste we have explored.

Being an advocate involved with social policy is new to me. Advocating for the best for children is something I have already been doing. But as an advocate in social policy I hope that I cancontinue to learn of ways to get involved and make a difference.

Personal Advocacy Reflection

My life is full of volunteer work with my sorority, thus I interact with a lot on individuals that have impacted my advocacy journey. My sorority sister who is a former Veteran who now works in HR Management for At&t. She spends her time advocating for homeless veterans.  She host and event entitiled Operation Standown where she raises awareness to the cause all under her own Non Profit Organization.  I have seen her organize and teach others like me to be strong leaders. Her dedication not only to cause but also to teaching those along the way to stand up and be involved if they strongly care about the issue or whatever you choose to advocate for as had a lasting impact on me,  I worked closly with her co chairing a youth symposium several years where we provide information and materials to children who are need. I will continue to chair this program this year on my own as she has moved to another state. I only hope I can be the advocate she would have me to be in the future!

Advocacy Action

Advocacy embodies many of the above characteristics above, no matter what you choose as your passion. Even in early childhood education everyone has a passion in the field but not matter what you always speak up for what you believe in, educate yourself for the cause, collaborate with others and lead the way for the future.