- What motivated you to start advocating for very young children?
- My whole life I was more concerned about whether or not things were fair than really finding a solution or answer to why this happened. After getting involved in early childhood education, I realized the disadvantages that very young children have.
- Why is it essential to acknowledge and foster advocacy efforts at the micro as well as the macro level?
- It takes more than just a child's immediate environment to give them the best possible opportunities in life. So, involving the outside environments, including local and federal government bodies, can open up more doors and opportunities for children.
- What does it take to be a community leader on early childhood issues?
- It takes committment, drive, passion, and the ability to connect with various people.
- What resources does it take to be a state leader on early childhood issues?
- You have to be able to connect with all people, you must have the financial resources to implement new programs or efforts, and above all be passionate about truly doing what is best for young children.
- What tactics or strategies do you use to mobilize others?
- You have to get people to see your vision and then follow through with your ideals. I am a very outgoing and passionate person, I encourage people as I can but also provide constructive criticism with coaching.
- What advice would you give to someone who was interested in taking a leadership role in advocating for young children and their families?
- Read, research, and go for it! Tomorrow is too late!
Sunday, May 25, 2014
My Role as an Advocate
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3 comments:
Amber,
I absolutely love your advice!!!I plan on using it often.
Thanks for sharing!!
Hi Amber,
I liked what you said about it taking more than just a child's immediate environment to give them the best possible opportunities in life. By being able to connect with various individuals in the community and sharing your vision for issues of concern for you then you are getting tour message out into the community. Although our assignment was mainly focused on the Macro and Micro stages I believe each are all inter connected and therefore I included the meso stage of development in my blog as well. Each stage of development has benefits as well as hindrances depending on what the child has been taught and what the environmental influences are. I also learned from many of my college courses over a period time that there are three different and very distinct levels of practice within our society. “The three different levels of practice in society are; micro, meso and macro which represent groupings of societies based on their scale, (Sociology and Society Today - Society for Applied Sociology). Sometimes when we as advocates see the needs of the children and their families and we need to try and over look their educational background and beginnings. It is the environment that they are accustom to which directs their path. If we as advocates can influence others and make a difference and improvements for the lives children then we need to give it all we have and make some changes.
References
Sociology and Society Today - Society for Applied Sociology
http://www.appliedsoc.org/society/
Amber,
I agree that it takes drive, passion and commitment to work and connect with people at various levels to get the issue you are advocating about across. We as educators have the opportunity to advocate for the children we work with on a daily basis. But it can be very hard convincing community leaders and politicians to take on the venture. We definitely have to educate them on the issues before they will even listen to what we have to say. I like you “Read, research and go for it attitude” As you said tomorrow is too late. The children and families need us now!
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