WOW! How far I’ve come. One year ago I was submitting an application and applying to be a “Parent Ambassador”. Today, I’m flying home from sharing the information I’ve gained with a group of parents on the other side of the country. I’m so thankful that Joel Ryan, Lori Pittman, and Katy Warren picked me as one of the PA’s for 2010!
I never knew being accepted in to this program would be so life changing. In one year, I’ve gone from being a behind the scenes, quiet observer to an advocate for myself, my family, and children and families all over the NATION! I’ve traveled across the United States twice to advocate for children and early learning. Once attending our nation’s capital and speaking to state representatives and department heads of office. Secondly, giving a presentation on HOW to advocate for yourself and your children.
I’ve done a lot this year. My first call to action was almost one year ago exactly. With little training on what I needed to do, I testified at the state level on the effects of cutting the Working Connections Childcare program, and against cutting 3 year old preschool in our state. I was terrified. Shaky and feeling like my heart was going to jump out of my chest, I did it. And I didn’t sound near as bad as I did in my own head after listening to it a few days later. That day was an ice breaker for me. I never knew I could have such a voice on important issues such as these. Now I’m teaching others how to find their own voices, and am actually looking forward to going back and testifying this year. These issues have become a part of me. Of who I am and the person I’ve become.
I’ve been interviewed by the newspaper. I was interviewed by King 5, on the same day as my dear friends memorial service. I had swollen red eyes from crying, and I looked like a train ran me over, but it was my only chance for them to fit me in to their schedule. So again, I gave my story on what would happen with such tremendous budget cuts in our state. I created a YouTube video , that we sent straight to the Governor’s office asking her not to take these actions. The video went viral and now has over 500 views. Not half bad for just a message from the heart. I traveled to Washington D.C. to tell the amazing story of how Head Start helped my daughter to hear. I brought tears to people’s eyes with the message. I helped run a training for parents while in DC, on how to tell their stories. I recorded over 10 stories to send to Congress.
I now sit on many amazing committees to give a parent voice to decisions being made all over our state. I’m on my counties Early Learning Committee, I am on the WaKids Kindergarten Readiness committee, that helped develop the program that is now being tested all over our state, and will report back in January to the legislature on how it has worked. It’s actually being tested in my own child’s Kindergarten class. I’m on the Head Start/ECEAP advisory committee. I’ve been invited to speak later this week to a group of parents who are interested in learning more about how they can make a difference.
I found the courage to run and be elected to be the president of my children’s elementary school PTO. I NEVER would have thought I would be where I am today. At this moment, I’m flying home from the East Coast, reflecting on the fact that I just presented a wealth of information to 25 other parents for 2 days. If only one of these parents takes the information and shares it or does something with it, I will have accomplished what I set out to do. (Since returning home, already two of the parents I trained this week have written letters to the editor and been published!)
The Parent Ambassador program has taught me a lot about politics, about legislation, about current issues and affairs, about how to be involved in gov’t and other local communities. It has taught me about friendships and provided me with some really great mentors. But most of all, it has helped me find myself, helped to find the passion inside of me that I always knew was there, but didn’t know how to use it. Because of my advocacy and involvement with Early Learning, I was offered a better paying job that I’ve now begun to make my career. I’m over halfway done with my Child Development Associate. Because of that and getting married and my husband getting a raise, our family is now self sufficient. We no longer receive Public Assistance of any kind. With 5 kids, that’s quite an accomplishment! I can honestly say that even with all the trials and tribulations I’ve had this year; it has been one of the best years of my life.
Parent Ambassadors isn’t just a year-long advocacy training. It’s become a life changing, life-long part of me. I will never forget everything I’ve learned from the wonderful people who have mentored me this year, or the wonderful friendships I have made.
I’m sad my year of PA has come to an end. But even more excited to take the things I’ve learned and continue going onward and upward in advocating for children and families, and to passing along the torch of information to other parents to do the same!
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