Last month, Strategies for Children hosted a Reception for Reflection for the first cohort of our Advocacy Network for Early Education and Care – and we’ve created a highlights video to showcase the work of our Advocacy Network participants.

The Advocacy Network is an engaging, year-long experience for emerging leaders. It creates a new structure for connecting and supporting educator-advocates across all regions of the state, while building participants’ advocacy skills and first-hand experience. 

For Anna Ricci-Mejia, an early educator at the East Boston Social Centers, the Advocacy Network experience was inspiring. 

“I decided to speak up more for children’s sake,” she says. “Every word counts. I know there’s a lot of frustration; this is a low-paying career. But when you’re compassionate with children, you learn something new every day.”

Marcia Gadson-Harris, a family child care provider and Advocacy Network participant, adds:

“There are so many families who are suffering. I want to educate them, empower them, and give them choices about ways to cope and problem solve. I would like to provide support and resources to families who feel devastated, angry, hurt, depressed, confused, and doubtful. I want to provide tools of hope and encouragement. There’s SO MUCH anxiety. There’s SO MUCH stress. I want to let amilies know that WE care and that by partnering together, families and communities can get through this.”

The Reception for Reflection, a virtual gathering, was a chance for participants to reflect on what they learned, celebrate, and think about moving forward. It was a proud moment that we’re happy to be able to share through the highlights video.

Now, we’re getting ready to welcome the second cohort of Advocacy Network members – and next year there will be a third cohort.

If you’d like to apply, please contact Titus DosRemedios at tdosremedios@strategiesforchildren.org.

Building an advocacy network is essential. As Amy O’Leary, Strategies’ executive director, often says, we are the heroes we are waiting for. Early educators have the power to change the world. So please watch the video, consider applying to the network, and share information about it with your professional networks.

Together, we can encourage state and local policymakers to keep building an equitable system of high-quality, early education and care for children, families, and educators.