Time Well Spent!!!

I could cry tears of joy at the thought of accomplishing my Master's in a field that I am truly passionate to work in. As an advocate and professional in this field, the well-being, mental health, physical health and safety of children will always be my first priority. I want to see children grow and thrive regardless of physical ability, socioeconomic circumstances, race, or culture. All children deserve a fair shot at being successful, and I will WORK every day of my life to ensure that policymakers are implementing fair and policies.

3 Deeply Felt Learnings:

1. I deeply felt the importance of inclusion in early childhood programs. It is important for educators and leaders to show respect and openness to diversity. As educators and leaders, we come across many different cultures, and differences among people. It is important that people are able to feel a sense of belonging upon entering your program or center. Healthy relationships and strong bonds are established through effective communication, effective listening, being accepting and open to diversity and different ideas.

2. Another deeply felt learning that I gained from this program was the importance of play in the early childhood field. I have become more enthused and more of an advocate for play and its benefits among children in early childhood programs, in my community in hopes of eventually ending this challenge on a global level. Play influences a pivotal component of children’s cognitive development, independence, social and emotional behaviors, creativity, as well as how they perceive themselves and the world around them. 

3. The last deeply felt learning that I gained from this program was the importance of collaboration, communication, and coordination and its effects on leadership. Effective listening and communication skills are very important when working as a team and amongst a community of practice, of course, there will be individuals with different opinions, skill levels, ideas, expertise and views regarding plans and goals but a leader must be willing to listen, and be open-minded to diversity when it comes to values, culture, and experiences. Collaboration reaches people on a larger level because it requires a group of trusting, goal oriented, respectful and selfless individuals that possess character traits needed to reach a wide range of people. Collaboration and communication skills influence partnerships and effective team building.

One Long-Term Goal

My ultimate goal as an advocate is to ensure that children are learning and developing in unique ways to meet their individual needs. I hope to push for changes in policies that provide all children, regardless of their circumstances, an equal shot at reaching their full potentials, especially through learning through play in educational practices. In the future I will ensure my professional growth through continued collaboration with effective community’s of practice, continued research on trends, issues, and challenges as well as the many ways to effectively address these challenges in efforts to meet the needs of children and families. 

Farewell Message-- 

Thank you all for all of the positve feedback via discussion posts and via blog each week. I am so happy and proud of us all, it has been a long 22 months, but we have persevered. I want to thank Professor Ernst for the continued support and feedback, quick email and text responses regarding assignments week after week. I could not have completed the course without your help. I pray a positive and effective journey for everyone, please continue fighting and advocating for our children, they need us. 

Email: passionmakella@gmail.com please feel free to contact me with research, questions, etc. I am always eager to contiue learning. 

    

Job/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

United Nations Children's Fund.

This organization appealed to me because I admire that it works hard to protect and include children globally. UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. This organization's works with partners worldwide to promote policies and expand access to services and resources to protect all children. UNICEF is also the voice of children and communities by harnessing the power of communication to promote child survival, development, protection, and participation.


Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

This organization appeals to me because it works hard to fight for the well-being of children and their families who may be living in poverty and does not have access to resources needed to healthily survive physically and developmental. The mission of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The OECD provides a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems. We work with governments to understand what drives economic, social and environmental change. We measure productivity and global flows of trade and investment. We analyze and compare data to predict future trends. We set international standards on a wide range of things, from agriculture and tax to the safety of chemicals. This organization also assists individuals with developing skills to be sustainable in the economy as well as to work productively in their jobs. 

International Step by Step Association

This organization appealed to me first and foremost because they commit to the development of children, across all domains. Ever since ISSA was founded in 1999 we have grown significantly – providing knowledge and tools to improve the quality of Early Childhood Development. In pre-schools, day care centers and primary schools across Europe. From the secretariat in Leiden (The Netherlands), we gather and create prominent studies and insights on child care and share it with our peers, organization members, and policymakers so they can put them to good use. 

Vision:

A society where families, communities, and professionals work together to empower each child to reach her or his unique potential and embrace values of social justice and equity. 

Mission:We are a learning community, powered by the leading early childhood experts in Europe and Central Asia. We unite professionals and partners to deliver high-quality early years services equitably. We challenge existing knowledge and practice and co-construct new approaches and models. 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

Research and Policy Director

Voices for Georgia's Children - Atlanta, GA

Employer: Voices for Georgia's Children (www.georgiavoices.org) is celebrating 15 years as an independent non-profit organization that seeks to ensure all children to be safe, healthy, educated, connected to family and community, and prepared to be productive and responsible citizens. As advocates for the next generation, our primary functions are education and research, communication, coalition building, and public and legislative advocacy. We believe that sound, research-based public policy provides the basis for adequate investment, effective systems, and productive programs that will lead to good outcomes for children. To achieve policy change we provide elected officials, agency and community leaders with the information, experience, and constituent voice that support sound decisions about children. Voices plays a key role in several statewide coalitions, state leadership initiatives, and fosters a team environment where most projects engage multiple members of the staff to achieve excellence.

Our Strategy: We achieve our influence through advocacy with elected and appointed officials and through extensive collaboration and engagement of local, state and national organizations. We partner with academic and nonprofit organizations with deep knowledge of key children’s issues to ensure a research-base to our policy agenda. We convene leadership teams of organizations with common objectives for collective advocacy, and we engage and educate a broad network of individuals and organizations to encourage a community culture that gives priority to children. Through traditional and social media we educate and encourage the larger community to support the needs of children.

Voices’ Policy Agenda: Voices’ policy agenda aims to improve laws, regulations, administrative initiatives and priorities, and state investments to the betterment of child well-being and the systems that serve children. Priorities of the agenda are early childhood development from birth to age eight; child health, including quality health coverage for all children; vulnerable and disconnected youth, young people ages 14-21 who need support and intervention to get back on track to a successful adulthood; and quality out-of-school time programs and family’s access to them. We advance these policies in the public arena as well as protect and defend against threats to children and the families that support them.

Position Summary: The Research & Policy Director will provide leadership for all policy priorities that are part of the Voices’ child policy agenda. They will ensure the standards and quality of our recommendations, oversee all policy related communications and publications. They will work with the Advocacy Director in educating and building relationships with influential state leadership.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure the effectiveness of policies promoted by Voices
• Conduct necessary research and analysis through our demonstration and evaluation projects
• Work with expert partners to ensure the currency and potential effectiveness of the policy agenda relative to national research and best practices
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant research and state and national reports on child policy
• Engage service providers and youth themselves in assessing the appropriateness of policy recommendations
• Convene, as necessary, organizations and advocates to set objectives for youth outcomes and priorities for policy change

• Represent Voices in community venues related to child policy issues.
• Be the primary Voices contact on selected children’s issues
• Serve on related committees, task forces, and boards
• Present on behalf of Voices in conferences, public forums, and discussions of children and family policy.

• Ensure appropriate communications regarding the policy agenda
• Work collaboratively with the Advocacy Director on the development of key messages for the priority policies
• Oversee the issue content of the Voices website
• Serve as spokesperson to the media on Voices’ position and the research and rationale behind Voices’ policy recommendations

• Work with the Advocacy Director to provide lobbying and advocacy support for the policy agenda
• Provide expert testimony and lobby when necessary on Voices’ policy and legislative agenda
• Manage issue-specific coalitions as necessary to support Voices’ advocacy strategy
• Direct grassroots advocacy efforts through electronic and social media related to the assigned policy issues

• Supervise policy analysts conducting research, report and brief writing, project management, and other duties assigned

Qualifications: The ideal candidate must believe in the role of public policy in improving the lives of children, especially low income, and disadvantaged children. He/she must enjoy and respect the political process and be committed to a nonpartisan approach to change. The Research & Policy Director also must be committed to reaching out to diverse audiences including racial and ethnic groups, faith organizations, and those with a range of political ideologies.

We require at least 10 years of experience working in public policy or an environment focused on children’s issues or a Ph.D., J.D., or Master’s degree and five years of public policy experience. We seek demonstrated ability to evaluate quality research and data; good writing skills with ability to communicate issues to the board and to community leaders; ability to work effectively in an external partisan political environment, recognizing community perspectives and balancing that environment with the best interests of children.

Desired Skills and Attributes

• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Strong command of research design and data analysis
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communications skills for representation of the organization with external partners and policy-makers.
• Flexibility, high energy, and a strong team player. Willingness to change tasks on short notice and pitch in on team products when needed.
• Willingness to participate in occasional out-of-town travel.

Compensation: Voices for Georgia’s Children regularly reviews the non-profit marketplace and targets salaries to be competitive in the Atlanta market. Position includes medical, dental, vision and disability benefits, 401(k) retirement plan with an employer matching contribution, annual leave, sick time, and holiday pay. Voices promotes a healthy work/life balance.

Voices is an equal opportunity employer.

Please apply by sending a thoughtful cover letter, including salary expectations, and a resume.