“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” Albert Einstein

I'm inspired to become an advocate because I understand that every young child deserves a chance to have a quality education. I'm excited to have found out that although one can do very little to convince congress that an early education is important; it hasn't prevented many advocates from lobbying on behalf of the poor and low-income families.

The challenges that I will probably continue to face are with the families who would like their young children to attend school but cannot afford to do so because they do not qualify for childcare subsidies and/or they are over income for Head Start.

The Advocacy Action Plan can only be effective if I am able to implement it so that others become passionate about its importance. I would have to find the additional time and resources to collect important data that will support the interest of my plan. The research, timelines, history and etc. has to be true of facts and support realistic goals.

My belief is that we all have a least one thing that we would like to change or improve in our profession. Our young children cannot speak on their own behalf. As Einstein stated, “the imagination embraces the entire world.” We should become advocates knowing that it all begins with the Imagination.

Enlisting and Providing Support (Quality Childcare for All Children)

It seems as though advocacy support for low income families is shared all across the world. My question is; with all of the data and research to show that young children benefit from a quality early childhood education, why is it taking so long to provide a stable budget that will support their educational needs?

The resources and information that I am seeking is; evidence/facts to show why the government, city and state has not made early education a priority. What are the members of congress really saying about early education? The "Race to the Top" is an opportunity for all childcare/pre-k/Head Start providers to receive funding for quality services. How will the award impact a community of low-income children/families who are enrolled in a early childhood program that is not rated quality yet can provide assistance to low income children and families who are in need?

The National Center for Children in Poverty (http://www.nccp.org/) has been a helpful tool for me as I have moved forward towards advocacy efforts. It has researched information about children and families, policies, early education and etc. The course text (Informed Advocacy in Early Childhood Care and Education, by Judith Kieff) was also helpful in and more of a resource because it contained step by step information on how to become an advocate. The book included facts about policies, assessments, planning and etc. helped me to expand my topic.