Make Your Voice Count

03/15/2022

It doesn't matter how strong your opinions are. If you don't use your power for positive change, you are indeed part of the problem.
Coretta Scott King (1927-2006), author, civil rights activist

A post on the Head Start website, in honor of Women's History Month, describes the contributions to Head Start, and the wider early care and education field, made by Marian Wright Edelman and Susan Feingold. It’s an inspiring read about two strong and courageous advocates.

The word advocate can feel intimidating, as if it’s reserved for only a small number of people with exceptional abilities.

However, the Out of the Box Training, "How Do I Relate and Share Professionally?" based on an article by Rhonda Forrest and Nadine McCrea, encourages each one of us in the ECE community to believe in our ability to make our voice count.

"By entering into professional debates about early childhood education, we can influence political, professional, and scholarly spheres," the authors urge.

Forrest and McCrea explain that before we can become effective advocates, we must first examine and perhaps update our strongly held beliefs. "As part of understanding our own professional foundations, it is essential that we uncover and consider the deep-seated notions that steer and motivate us. This exploration of self can expose personally held concepts that often surprise and may shock us."

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