I look over at the categories I am asked to fit myself into and I realize I fit all of them. As a child I attended one of the first Head Start programs opened in NYC. I remember fondly the teachers and even the cook we had. I can, to this day, compare her meals to my own grandmothers skill and not feel a bit of guilt.
I liked the program so much I wanted my middle child to attend there as well but the program wasnt what I wanted any more so I changed my mind.I placed him in the child care centers daycare program instead. There are 8 years between my middle and youngest child and I had moved to a different community. In my new community I met peole that had used the Head Start across the street from my home. I also met one of the teachers so with my youngest child I decieded to give Head Start a chance. I was EXTREMLY happy.
I was able to share with my mother some of the wonderful things she missed out on while I was a Head Start child. She couldn't belive there was somthing like the Policy Council and that parents had power. Not to mention the power was federaly mandated power. Just something about empowering the poor and the federal government did not combine well in her mind. It was unbelievable the feds had mandated something like that.
Not only was I empowered I helped to empower others. Wow if only if I could find a job doing this. I attended a City Wide Policy Council meeting were the group was informed there were job openings and our resumes were wanted. I had nothing to loose and I put mine in thinking hey if not here I still have my other volunteer work and I have my resumes out there anyway. Low and behold I was called up to not work at my agency but with the super grantee!
I am proud to say I have assisted my grantee to be in full compliance with our enrollment drive and I am now assisting our city's neediest families, foster care, domestic violence and protective services clients in finding and enrolling into Head Start programs across my city.
Today I look at my youngest child and thank her for pulling me out of work because I had to stay home with her. I thank her for bringing me back to Head Start and reminding me of how wonderful it truly is and how I wish more families could experience what I have as a child, a parent, and an employee.
Sincerely,
Jchemela Holmes