Tapping into parent power and taking it to a new level |

Tapping into parent power and taking it to a new level

May 14, 2019 by Alyssa Haywoode

Award winners.

Parents are a powerful part of education. They help their own children. They volunteer and help other people’s children. And earlier this month, parents who are connected to the Head Start and Child Services programs at the Boston, anti-poverty agency ABCD, got a celebratory nod of recognition at a Parent Training & Recognition Breakfast.

The event’s keynote speaker was Amy O’Leary, director of the Early Education for All campaign here at Strategies for Children.

“Parents can change the world,” Amy says, “and that’s why engaging them in their children’s education is so important.”

“Research has shown that when parents are engaged in their children’s lives and education it benefits both parent and child now and in the long term,” according to an excerpt from ABCD’s parent handbook. “Based on this rich body of research, we know that we need an ongoing commitment from parents and families in each of our centers.”

In her keynote speech, Amy encouraged parents to make their voices heard.

Her message: “WE Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For.” Parents can become leaders in early education and care.

“All of the skills, gifts and talents you use to support young children can be used where you are sitting right now to lead,” Amy explained in her presentation.

“We need to believe in ourselves and be willing to think differently about the future.”

That means parents should know who key decision-makers are and that parents should figure out what these decision-makers need to know to make informed decisions about early childhood programs.

“No one is born knowing how to do this!” one of Amy’s PowerPoint slides says, “We all have to learn and practice.”

PowerPoint slide courtesy of Amy O’Leary.

Teamwork is also essential. It’s important to find allies and ask for help.

Know your why, Amy advised, calling on parents to understand their personal motives and motivations and also sharing a link to this video.

Finally, it’s crucial to commit to action. Parents are experts who can tell policymakers their stories.

Don’t be intimidated by the process, Amy says, YOU CAN DO IT.

Other speakers at the event included, Yvette Rodriguez, vice president of ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services, as well as Catherine Moran, the program director at Dorchester Head Start & Children’s Services, and Andreina Manana ERSEA Specialist, Roxbury Head Start & Children’s Services.

The event’s Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients are:

Allston Brighton Head Start

Leonela Pineda Diaz
Sami Alghamdi

Bradshaw Head Start

Sareddi Tusen
Arpedello Hunter Scott

Dorchester Early Head Start

Karoline Beaumont
Helen Do

Dorchester Head Start

Indoinka Brown
Tracy O’Neal

East Boston Head Start

Meryl Andrade
Carlos Camargo
Iliana Melendez

Harrison Ave. Head Start