Child care providers embody the gratitude, caring, and community we celebrate on Thanksgiving. After long days of caring for children and supporting America\u2019s working families, many extend their day by advocating for and supporting other child care providers in their networks, states, and nationally through their work with Home Grown. Here are just a few of the many providers we are grateful for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shay Jackson,<\/strong> owner of Modern Early Learning Academy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, says her work on Home Grown\u2019s Licensing Work Group, \u201chas allowed [her] to influence policy changes that prioritize the safety and well-being of children in home-based child care settings.\u201d Shay also leads a listening and support group of home-based child care providers (in partnership with the North Carolina Childhood Foundations Care and Learning initiative<\/a>), who meet monthly to share resources, expertise and care for one another. \u201cA lot of providers just feel undervalued and isolated,\u201d she says. \u201cJust getting together and listening to each other and helping each other is a huge boost to our mental health.\u201d This month, in recognition of Shay\u2019s efforts to advocate for young children, their families, and other providers, the North Carolina Early Education Coalition presented Shay with an Outstanding Early Education Advocate Award.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n After 20 years of taking care of children in her Philadelphia home, Diane Gardner,<\/strong> now spends most of her time leading the Quality Influential Professionals child care network. \u201cSome of the providers are so stressed that they are ready to go get a job at McDonald\u2019s. My goal is to empower them, help them get funding, and teach them how to apply for subsidies or use the food program. It\u2019s so important for us home-based providers to to see each other and hold each other up because we are the heart and soul of child care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carmela Enriquez<\/strong>, a Colorado-based FFN caregiver, couldn\u2019t agree more. Carmela supports Spanish-speaking FFN caregivers throughout her community with resources, translation, and reassurance. \u201cBeing able to communicate in our home language enables me to explain to my peers that when you join these programs, you are not in danger. Providers need motivation, connection, and real support from someone who can guide us around the obstacles that arise for any child care provider trying to sustain the work they do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gladys Jones<\/strong>, who is a provider advisor of Home Grown, also champions the needs and expertise of home-based child care providers in her work with ECE On the Move<\/a>. Gladys recently received a Community Change Champion Award<\/a> for her work as an Emerging Change Champion who propels the community toward a democracy and economy where everyone can thrive. \u201cI started out as an advocate,\u201d she says. \u201cThen I became an activist. And now I\u2019m a revolutionary. We child care providers are raising the leaders of the future. We need to have a say in what we are doing and in how quality child care is defined, especially in our low-income communities. We create environments of love and care and education that are essential to our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n