Considering Your Capacity

• Which issues impacting young children and their families and/or the field of early childhood fuel your passion?

The issue impacting young children and their families in the ECE field that fuel my passion is the foster care system and how children that are taken away from their parents and put in homes with strangers.  They are taken away from everything they no and are sad and confused.  There has to be a better system.

• What special skills do you have that will contribute to your advocacy efforts? How will you incorporate these skills into your work?

The number one skill I believe is extremely important to be an successful advocate is the ability to communicate with others and build relationships with others especially organizations that have the same interest.

• What resources do you have at your disposal that can benefit your advocacy work?

Casa, State of Texas Licensing Department, CPS, other advocates, families, children and of course the Internet that allows you to search for many resources.

• What knowledge, skills, dispositions, and/or talents do you possess that will contribute to your advocacy work?

The knowledge I have is a bachelor's in Criminal justice, minor in political science, certified paralegal, Casa training and now volunteer.  Great communication skills, organize and able to multitask.  I am very ;passionate and believe that every child has a right to have a safe and loving home.  I am not prejudice and I believe everyone can change with the adequate training and assistance.

• In what ways do you hope to grow in order to be a more effective advocate?

I hope I will feel more comfortable to join more organization that advocate for children and hope one day I am on numerous committees.  I would like to go to Austin and lobby for the reform of the Foster Care System.

Motivations, Strategies, Resources, Leadership, and Advice

My father was an alcoholic when I was growing up.  He was very abusive to my mom and  me and my siblings.  We moved thirteen times in my elementary and high school years.   I isolated myself from everyone and had few friends in school.  I was so embarrassed to bring friends over because I never knew if my father was going to get drunk.  I decided when I had my children that they would never have to feel the pain and abasement I had as a child.  And they never did.  But I also wanted to make sure that other children in my care as a Preschool Director would never feel as I did as a child.  The reason why it is essential to acknowledge and foster advocacy efforts at the micro as well as the macro level is that both levels are very important when it comes to the Early Childhood Field.  The core of being a community leader is having passion for an issue.  Also needs to be committed, so that they can create an environment that will move public will and promote community-wide investments in our young children.  Money is an extremely important resource to be a state leader on early childhood issues.  Another good resource is regional network.  Some tactics/ strategies you can use to mobilize others are to pass on information.  Another way is to send newsletters to your target organizations.  Also creating workshops to inform the community in issues.  The advice i would give is that the most undervalued and yet the most critical is that leadership roles in the early childhood field is that of the facilitator.   Building relationships is the key!!

"Personal Advocacy Reflection"

The person that I feel has been impacted how I look at child advocacy.  Crystal Dudley is the owner of Gateway Early Learning Center.  She opened a preschool in Cleburne, Texas when her twin babies were born because she felt like the schools were not an acceptable ECE program.  She toured all the schools in Cleburne about she felt like the schools were not high quality programs.  The schools were dirty and they did not have a structured schedules are curriculum.  The teachers were not friendly and did not look professional. Six years ago she opened Gateway Early Learning Center and two years ago she open a School Age Campus for  at risk children.
She also is the President of CASA of Johnson County and a volunteer for them for ten years.  Crystal also works closely with The Family Crisis Center.  This organization helps women that have been a victim of domestic violence.  She is a wonderful, loving, caring person that believes every child should be able to be part of a high quality preschool program.   She has played a big part in my decision to go to Walden University to get My Masters in Early Childhood Education with Specialization in Public Policy and Child Advocacy.  I am also current a Casa volunteer.  I have finally found my true passion and I thank Crystal for seeing how important ECE field is very all the children.