My Role as an Advocate

      I have always loved children and as I began to have children of my own the desire to advocate for not only my children but the needs of other children grew.  I began to see that there were children out there that had no one to be a voice for them, I decided that I wanted to be their voice. 
As my passion for advocacy has grown, I now realize that I have been advocating for many years.
      You could say it is at the micro or macro level as a parent or even a teach of young children, I have been looking out for what is best for young children for years.  I see advocacy efforts as being important at the level of parenthood to the white house.  In order for advocacy issues to really be listened to, there has to be the reality that these issues really exist.  Every level of advocacy is important.
     When I think of being a leader on early childhood issues, I think of passion.  If you are passionate about any issue, you can usually speak from your heart about the issue and get some one else to listen to you and maybe believe in what you are saying.  As you get the right people to listening to you, hopefully this will generate resources. Resources such as money and people that are not afraid to share the information will be key in advocacy.
     I thought about what has made me mobile with the issue of being able to adovocate and that is having access to ways to advocate.  Presenting ways to the public to adovocate will assist in moblizing, along with sharing what is happening in regards to the issue at hand. I have started advocating via the internet by writing to policy makers and joining groups that believe in what I believe.
     If people want to become leaders in advocating for young children, I would advise finding like minded people and building collaboration.  I believe doors will open for roles to lead as you join forces with others that are trying to reach the same goal as you.  There is plenty of work to be done.