What Inspires You to Work on Behalf of Young Children?
Celebrating the Week of the Young Child
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Every week is the 鈥淲eek of the Young Child鈥� at Early Learning Nation. The (NAEYC) makes it official with its , and we鈥檙e taking the opportunity to invite experts and leaders to reaffirm our collective purpose.
鈥淵oung children are the best of us: hopeful, idealistic and driven by unconditional love. We owe it to them 鈥� and to the world they will inherit and improve 鈥� to nurture and protect their developing brains and bodies, as well as their instincts and talents and hearts.鈥�
鈥擠r. Dana Suskind, founder and co-director of and author of 鈥溾��
鈥淲hat inspires me to work on behalf of our youngest children and families is that we are seeing the promise of our future fulfilled before us and living into our values every day.鈥�
鈥擜nne Mosle, executive director of
鈥淪tate policy choices matter! The research is clear that state investments in young families and caregivers lead to a lifetime of benefits for children and society. It鈥檚 inspiring to work toward policy solutions that will enhance well-being and equity.鈥�
鈥擟ynthia Osborne, executive director of
“I鈥檓 inspired by family child care educators! I鈥檓 so grateful for their endless commitment as teachers and caregivers. Every time I watch them fostering curiosity, wonder and joy in young children, I am re-energized and ready to redouble efforts to get them the recognition they deserve.”
鈥擩essica Sager, co-founder and CEO of
鈥淚鈥檓 inspired to work on behalf of children because securing our children鈥檚 future isn鈥檛 just a moral imperative; it鈥檚 the most crucial investment we can make. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to fulfill their dreams, and it鈥檚 our job to dismantle barriers that stand in the way of those dreams and create pathways for their success.鈥�
鈥擬arquita Little NuMan, executive director of
鈥淭he years of early childhood are the most consequential period in all of human development, holding the potential to put children on the path to lifelong success. But if the moral obligation isn鈥檛 sufficient rationale, think of the money. Our nation continues to spend an untold fortune on the results of our failure to act in accordance with the science of early development. It鈥檚 time we got smarter.鈥�
鈥擠an Wuori, strategic advisor on early childhood, , and founder & president of
鈥淲hen I was younger, I knew I wanted to be a super-engaged mom and also have an impactful career, but our public policies and workplace structures were not at all set up for that. I鈥檝e been working for the past several decades to change the status quo鈥攖o make it easier for people to parent, work and care, because all of our children, regardless of where they come from or what they look like, should be able to count on safety and nurturance from their parents, early educators and community as a whole.鈥�
鈥擩ulie Kashen, director of women’s economic justice and senior fellow at
鈥淚鈥檝e been inspired by children鈥檚 capacity and life stance, of course, but especially by the very young children with significant needs and disabilities whom I worked with long ago, and whose lives and opportunities have been very uneven. I鈥檓 inspired by them and by the millions of children who need significant supports to thrive and grow, the tireless work of their caregivers and educators and the promise of even more social progress to build a better future for the next generation and the world.鈥�
鈥擭onie Lesaux, co-director of the at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
“Being a child advocate is not someone else鈥檚 responsibility. It calls on all of us 鈥� lawyers, doctors, teachers, environmental specialists, and spiritual leaders 鈥� to keep the best interests of children and families in mind in our work, to stand up for improved conditions that will help children and families thrive, to listen and be guided by the work of communities, and to leave the earth in better shape for the next generation.”
鈥擩oan Lombardi, senior fellow at the at Georgetown University
鈥淜ids are who inspire me! The urgency to honor childhood, the right to be a child鈥� their full authentic selves, to play, to be loved, to be respected, to be free, that鈥檚 what fuels my work.鈥�
鈥擲hantel Meek, founding executive director of the at Arizona State University
鈥淲hen I think about what inspires me, the answer is simple: my daughter. Through my own lived experience as a young single mom, and as a Black woman, I quickly came to understand the significance of Dr. King鈥檚 quote: 鈥榃hatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly,鈥� and that my daughter鈥檚 destiny would be strongly connected to the success of her peers. It鈥檚 what鈥檚 led me to community organizing, advocacy and public policy work, and on this journey, I’ve met thousands of children and young people who give me hope for our future.鈥�
鈥擪im Janey, president & CEO of economic mobility pathways
鈥淵oung children inspire me with their joyful and curious approach to our world. Protecting that genuine wonder drives me to ensure we are doing everything possible to foster their joy through inclusive learning environments across all settings in partnership with educators and families.鈥�
鈥擬ichelle Kang, CEO of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (
鈥淭he hardworking educators who undertake the often-underappreciated tasks of educating, nurturing and loving our children provide tremendous inspiration for my work. Their tireless efforts support families and, in turn, sustain the vitality of our city. I am equally inspired by the families navigating the complexities of child care in hopes of giving their children the strongest possible start in life. Ultimately, I recognize the profound impact of high-quality child care on society. Prioritizing children鈥檚 well-being isn’t just morally right; it’s also an investment in creating a brighter future for all of us in New York City.鈥�
鈥擩ocelyn Rodriguez, director of child care quality innovation at
鈥淓very day, young children are on a journey to learn something new about their world, and the early educators who care for them encourage this by creating joyful, affirming and nurturing spaces. I am inspired to support these early educators because the children in their programs hold so much hope and promise for our future.鈥�
鈥擡rica Phillips, executive director of the
鈥淭he foundations of a just and good society that allow persons to reach their full potential are established in the earliest years of human life. I work for young children and their families because I care deeply about building a society where human dignity is respected and individuals have every opportunity to flourish.
鈥�鈥擩oe Waters, co-founder and CEO at
鈥淚 am inspired in my work by the joy and creativity of young children as they explore the world, and the brilliance and thoughtfulness of the teachers and caregivers who help shape the environments in which they learn.鈥�
鈥�鈥擠iana Mendley Rauner, president of
鈥淎s Too Small to Fail celebrates its 10th anniversary promoting early brain and language development, I continue to learn and feel inspired by the children and families that I meet through our work in communities across the country. I鈥檓 particularly inspired by the parents and caregivers who give so much of themselves to provide their children with the best start possible.鈥�
鈥嬧�擯atti Miller CEO, , Clinton Foundation
鈥淎s a child, I dreamt of making changes to the systems that impacted me, driven by a desire for fairness and equity. Now, as a mother, my greatest sense of purpose and joy comes from advocating for children’s rights and well-being. Navigating a fulfilling career alongside the challenges of rising child care costs has made me acutely aware of the obstacles many families face. As a deeply devoted mom, I am driven to create a better world for my children and all young ones, where they can thrive and reach their full potential.鈥�
鈥擜llison Gilbreath, senior policy and programs director at
“There is something profound about a young child’s joy, curiosity and unlimited potential that compels me to build a world that keeps those intact for as long as possible.”
鈥擪ai-ama Hamer, director of
This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 麻豆精品. Learn more here.
Mark Swartz writes about efforts to improve early care and education as well as developments in the U.S. care economy. He lives in Maryland.
Articles by Art Hondros