Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

           Since beginning my focus in teaching and diversity through this Master’s program, my awareness of the discrepancies of equity and fairness across economic classes and racial diversity has affected my career path.  I have worked with affluent families, and I have worked with families who struggle to get by.  The difference in the level of opportunities granted to the children that are brought up in these separate cultures is staggering.  My personal goal is to become involved in communities of practice that allow me to pursue and explore this passion.  I want to work with individuals who share these feelings with me and want to help me achieve my personal and professional goals.  “In pursuing their interest in their domain, members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information. They build relationships that enable them to learn from each other” (Wenger, 2006).   

            When conducting research of local and state organizations in my current place of employment; Connecticut; I came across a few nonprofit organizations with employment opportunities that interested me greatly.  First, I came across The Village.  The Village is an organization designed to help families in Connecticut; become strong and healthy, and protect and nurture their children.  This organization works in many different aspects of the early childhood field.  They assist couples in exploring and connecting for adoption, provide early childhood education services, pregnancy services, family services that assist mothers and fathers (especially young parents and expecting couples), assist in foster care services and therapy, have school based programs, and much more.  The Village seems to focus the majority of their program on ensuring that all children are involved in stable families that provide them with their basic needs, as well as a loving, nurturing environment. 

www.villageforchildren.org

The Village is based in Hartford and there are many employment opportunities within this program.  There are a few jobs at this establishment that I feel I would be well equipped to perform in.  I would love to teach and/or direct the preschool within The Village.  I enjoy their focus on family and nurturing the whole child.  I would also be interested in the parent education aspect of The Village.  I believe that a healthy child starts with a healthy home and that I would be able to assist young couples in developing such an environment for their children.  I like this employment opportunity because I enjoy exploring different aspects of the early childhood field and I think that I would make an excellent mentor to parents who are struggling to raise their family. 

I feel that in order to be successful in such a position, I would need to be able to work with families from all different backgrounds.  I would have to be careful to not judge and to not be bossy.  I would have to nurture them just as I would like them to nurture their own children.  I believe that my experience working with a variety of children at different ages and from different environments would assist me in being competent in this position.  I also feel that my role as a nanny has prepared me to mentor parents in a way that is not harsh or intrusive; but in a way that models teamwork and support.  My interpersonal skills would be greatly beneficial in such a position because families would need to feel comfortable with me and with allowing me to be a partner in their life.  I believe that I would be a great fit for such a position. 

http://www.fccfoundation.org/cm/Explore%20Our%20Work/The%20Fund%20for%20Women%20and%20Girls.html

            Another organization I came across in my search was The Fund for Women and Girls.  This is based in Fairfield County, Connecticut; where I currently reside.  When people in Connecticut think of Fairfield County, they think of great wealth and social and educational advantages.  They think of privilege and opportunity.  In reality, there are many people who are struggling to make ends meet, and because of all the affluence in the area, it is very difficult to get proper funding to these people.  This makes it particularly difficult for single women trying to raise their children and provide proper healthcare.  It also has caused an increase in drug use and sexual activity amongst females in impoverished areas within the county. 

            This organization focuses on helping women gain educational opportunities, which will allow them to earn higher wages and have financial security; and no longer continue to raise their children in poverty.  It also provides programing that empowers adolescent girls to prepare themselves for a financially and emotionally stable existence.  This organization is not directly working with young children.  However, I feel that through working with mothers and young women, I am working to help benefit the lives of today’s children, as well as the children of tomorrow.  I also feel that this is forgotten group of individuals in such an affluent county; and I would like to be involved in their social and economic development. 

            After searching their site, I was unable to find employment opportunities listed.  However, with the line of work that this organization is dedicated to, there must be many grants that have to be written and those families who are more affluent in the area must make donations.  Since I live in this community, I feel that I would make an excellent grant writer or a liason.  I have developed some incredible connections with families throughout this area and feel that I may be able to stir an interest in assisting women and girls in Fairfield County who are less fortunate than those families with whom I work.  In order to be successful at such a position, I would need to be articulate, charismatic, and knowledgeable.  I would also have to be presentable.  Physical presentation in this area is a big deal, and I would need to come across as educated and driven.  I feel that I have all of these qualities in order to communicate with wealthy families and advocate for women and girls who are less fortunate.  In addition, I would need to be able to write effectively and persuasively.  I believe that I would be very successful in doing so, and I enjoy writing.  I also would need to be able to organize fundraisers and activities that would help raise money for these women and girls.  I feel that this job would be directly beneficial to the young children in this area.  

http://www.newcanaannature.org/

            When considering organizations, I wanted to choose a state, county, and local community of practice that appealed to me.  I couldn’t do so without revisiting the New Canaan Nature Center.  A little over a year ago, I left my position there as a preschool teacher to move closer to my family; only to find myself returning to the area. I loved working at the Nature Center and feel that their mission truly assisted families in this area in bringing up healthy, happy children; as well as supporting families in spending time with each other, as well as with members of the community. 

            A large component of why I chose the New Canaan Nature Center is its unique connection to nature that many children and families have lost over the decades.  At this preschool, children are outside learning every single day; rain, snow, wind, or shine.  Families are connected through family programing and children from different socioeconomic backgrounds are linked through school programming.  The people who run this organization are passionate and dedicated and love what they do and the community they represent.  Although I would love to teach here again, I feel that I would be better suited to be the director of the preschool.  In order to do so effectively, I would need to have great interpersonal skills and a deep knowledge and understanding of child development.  Parents in this area tend to be very involved in their children’s education and want to know every meaning behind every activity that is being done within the school.  I also feel that I would need to be an effective leader and team player.  The teachers work very closely as a unit and are dedicated to bringing the best education possible for their students.  I would also need to be able to work effectively with other departments within the Nature Center. 

            In conclusion, this week we have studied communities of practice and how they affect our professional lives and development.  I think that it’s important to consider ourselves to be a part of community, no matter what our role within our organization may be.  A community of practice will allow us a space to field ideas and dreams, as well as give and receive constructive criticism.  I believe that nonprofit organizations tend to offer a great sense of community.  Often, its employees do not make a great deal of money and are therefore, naturally, more passionate about their position.  I believe that it’s important to be involved in communities of practice who are giving back to the early childhood community through all different avenues; through community, families, as well as directly through the child.  “Each collaboration has its own unique destination of community benefits.  Yet each member within the collaboration also brings along her or his separate self-interests” (Winer & Ray, 1994, p. 28).

References:

Winer, M., & Ray, K. (1994). Collaboration handbook: Creating, sustaining, and enjoying the journey. St. Paul, MN: Fieldstone Alliance.

Wenger, E. (2006).Communities of practice: A brief introduction. Retrieved from http://www.ewenger.com/theory/