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| Cary Larson-McKay |
It’s What We Do…Because?
I am so proud to be in your company. The members of the California AEYC are an amazing group of highly dedicated and giving people. You regularly go beyond the expected standards to make a significant difference in the lives of children. You do so mainly because you believe that children are important and what happens to them is crucial to their and our future. The values surrounding this profession is what drives me, what drives us. It is what drives the values, beliefs and outreach of CAEYC.
The value of positive and healthy development of children relates directly to our world, our society, ourselves and those we care about. And it needs to continue to be what moves us to do the necessary work to achieve that positive outcome for children. You, my friends and colleagues are the ones who seem to recognize this fact and live your lives accordingly.
Now, as your California AEYC President I want to challenge you to step up with me to let our voices be heard with new and renewed intensity. We have an unusual opportunity as many of our current leaders have taken the time to listen to the needs of children and families. They have seriously considered what happens to the children in some of the decisions they made and programs they organized. Their decisions can ultimately help us accomplish our goals based on universal values of supporting children’s best development.
I no longer question what difference my small opinion makes. I am no longer as intimidated by the advocacy process. I do know that there are many ways to advocate for children, and I know that standing up for what is right for the health and well-being of children is an important and necessary part of being in the early childhood profession and it is important in my life. I know that children are dependent on the adults that care for them to make sure they are well cared for.
And what now?
And now I ask you to stand up with me and allow me to stand with you as we advocate for the children of California and for our professional organization California AEYC. Our collective voices are needed. Those outside our profession are beginning to listen. Let’s give them something to think about. A few ideas to spread the word:
- Talk to your elected officials—all of them. Your local city council, school board, judges and county representatives are important to the functioning of your neighborhood and community. Your state legislators have already passed some legislation related to the lives of children and families—thank them. Federal law makers are listening as well, and every contact you make with them has a perceived value as representing their constituency.
- Join me in welcoming your elected officials to office when they win an election, and let them know what is important to you and for the children in your community.
- Talk to your neighbors about the importance of supporting children’s best development in all domains. Tell them about the values that inspire your work.
- Pass out information about events, special celebrations, and ways businesses and individuals can become part of the network of concerned citizens working toward healthy development for all children. Tell them about the benefits that come with adopting these values.
- Contact your local media and share with them the things that are important to you and our profession. Celebrate successes, spread the news about events in which you and your Affiliate members participate.
- Support each other in our collective journey to better understand our work with and impact on children.
- Use your social media to share the work you do with children and the values you hold.
- Use your social media to follow your law makers and to inform them about children’s issues.
- Share your thoughts with parents and invite them to join our celebrations of children.
Please join me, inform me and celebrate with me. Together we are a force to be reckoned with. Together we can help guide those making decisions about children’s lives, we can help them be sensitive to the realities of what is good for children’s development. We can share the information that can help them be well informed of the importance of taking good care of the children.
In one of the areas in Africa the usual greeting when people meet one another is not “Hello,” or “How are you.” It is “How are the children.” They recognize the vulnerability of children and how the status of children indicates the health of everyone in the society. I ask you to join hands with me, stand up and speak up – so we can answer the question “How are the children” in the positive.
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Bits and Pieces
CAEYC has been busily preparing for its fall events and processing the summer busyness. As you will see in other parts of this eConnections, the California Forums for Professional Development are coming soon. California AEYC is partnering with the California Department of Education – Early Education and Support Division. This is shaping up to be a much-looked-forward-to-event that supports those who engage in teaching and training activities. Visit the Forum website for additional information.
Planning is moving ahead for CAEYC’s Annual Conference and Expo with many interesting workshops and outstanding keynote speakers. Plan to make your registration early to get the best discounts.
During the summer, CAEYC hosted the Western States Leadership Network conference with the 13 western states sending representatives to spend five days in Berkeley, CA sharing with each other and finding ways to work together. We had outstanding speakers to help us in our thinking and planning for future work with our various states. A futurist—Gary Golden shared projections of how we might be working together to assure the best outcomes for children in this digital age. Marcy Whitebook and Lea Austin updated us on the state of “Worthy Wage” and compensation issues in our profession. We also had the benefit of NAEYC’s Executive Director Rhian Evans Allvin who spent a day walking us through the new NAEYC restructuring process.
In reaction to the NAEYC restructuring CAEYC has been holding open National Dialogue Summits to discuss and support local Affiliates as they make decisions regarding the upcoming structural changes. In addition, members of the CAEYC National Dialogue Ad Hoc Committee have made visits to individual Affiliates to help support the changes and decisions that Affiliates must make to comply with the NAEYC restructuring guidelines. There have been some very useful and productive dialogues coming out of these meetings.
Your new CAEYC Board of Directors is making plans for member outreach and events for the next few years so stay tuned for more news about those plans. If you have ideas and suggestions please make sure you contact me or someone on the Board to share those thoughts. I want each of you to feel connected and I welcome your thoughts about how you want your CAEYC to support you and your work. I would love to have that conversation with you.
With great good fall wishes for each of you,
Cary Larson-McKay