Time Well Spent

Below is my blog link:

www.nickonharris.blogspot.com

Three deeply felt learnings from this program:

As I reflect upon my experience in this course, the three deeply felt learnings that stand out for me is the importance of leadership. For example, I thought I knew what a leader was and what was required of one. However, after taking this course, I have learned more than what I anticipated. For instance, I leaned that a leader will motivate others to share their vision. I also learned that there are many leadership styles and that different situations call for different forms of leadership (Mind Tools, Ltd. 2011).  With that said, I thought intensely about the type of leader I want to be and I concluded that I want to display the characteristics of a democratic leader because under this leadership style, the opinions of others are valued, the team’s voice is heard, and it seems as if the team would have greater job satisfaction because they are valued…hence the team would work harder to see the leaders vision come into fruition.

I also learned the importance of identifying a challenge and conducting research so that I can find out what others are saying about my challenge so that I can see what did and or did not work well for them so that I can modify and adjust my approach as I work towards a solution.

I also learned of the importance of the community. I always knew it was important to get others involved in social change and more specifically in social changes that affect children and their families. However, I didn’t realize how deep I could go in my attempts to seek help. This course has taught me to not limit myself in terms of the assistance I seek but to provide opportunities for all to partake in creating a change.

One long term goal:

My long term goal is to not only create a program that provides families with access to affordable and quality childcare/programs, but I also hope to provide families with access to affordable quality nontraditional childcare by creating a childcare center that allows parents/families that work late nights, over nights, and or weekend to leave their child in a safe and nurturing environment.

My hope is that I continue to motivate others around me so that they share my goals and vision and to work towards social change.  

Farewell Message:

I won’t say good bye to you my classmates nor to Dr. Teri, I will simply say “I’ll see you later” because I am hopeful that our paths will cross again as we take a stand to create social change within our communities and ultimately on a national level.  I would like to thank all of my classmates for an amazing 8 weeks. I have learned so much from each of you and you have all provided me with food for thought.

I would like to thank Dr. Teri for all of her patience and for pushing me to always dig deeper within myself  by not giving up when faced with a challenge and to never settle…to always go to the core of an issue so that I can tap into my investigative skills to create change.

My Favorite Quote:

“All children can and will learn, they just learn differently”  ~Nickon Harris

Reference

Mind Tools, Ltd. (2011). Leadership styles: Using the right ones for the situation. Retrieved from

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_84.htm

Nicky

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

  

The International Forum for Child Welfare (IFCW)
The International Forum for Child Welfare (IFCW) is an international non-governmental organization. The IFCW was founded in 1989 to strengthen national non-governmental child welfare organizations worldwide through capacity building and to collaborate on new initiatives on behalf of children. In addition, the IFCW is to work for children worldwide to improve the quality of their lives and to enhance opportunities for the development of their full potential.
The IFCW organization is funded through annual membership fees and cost contributions from members, foundation grants and event participant fees.
I would like to have an opportunity to work for and with the IFCW because they are committed to serving children and their families from diverse political backgrounds and socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, gender, and regardless of the language they speak. I selected this organization because they focus on issues as they relate to children across the world, and they provide opportunities to learn from your peers by conducting conventions. I would also like to work for this organization, because I share their goal which is to provide children with opportunities to develop to their full potential and I would like to share in the many milestones of children as they continue to grow and develop into productive citizens.
 In order for me to obtain employment in any capacity with the IFCW, I need my Bachelors Degree, experience working with children, and speaking more than one language is a plus.   

http://www.ifcw.org/

International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN)

The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN), was founded in 1977, and is the only multidisciplinary international organization that brings together a worldwide cross-section of committed professionals to work toward the prevention and treatment of child abuse, neglect and exploitation globally.
ISPCAN's focus is to prevent cruelty to children in every nation, in every form i.e., physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, street children, child fatalities, child prostitution, children of war, emotional abuse and child labor. The ISPCAN is committed to increasing public awareness of all forms of violence against children, developing activities to prevent such violence, and promoting the rights of children in all regions of the world.  I was drawn to this organization because children’s voices are often left unheard simply because they are little people. However, I feel children should be respected and given the opportunity to be a child and hold on to their innocence; no one should have the right to strip them from that. Hence I would love to lend a helping hand and not for monetary gain but for personal gains. To work in this field as a communications coordinator, I would not only need my Bachelors Degree with a concentration in International Issues and in Communications, but having a Master’s Degree is preferred.

 http://www.ispcan.org/

International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC)

  .The International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC) was created in 1992 with the overall goal of the to eliminate of child labor, which was to be achieved through strengthening the capacity of countries to deal with the problem and promote a worldwide movement to combat child labor. IPEC currently has operations in 88 countries.

The aim of International Labor Organization is to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work related issues.

The IPEC's work to eliminate child labor not only prevents children from acquiring the skills and education they need for a better future, it also perpetuates poverty and affects national economies through losses in competitiveness, productivity and potential income. Withdrawing children from child labor and providing them with education and assisting their families with training and employment opportunities will give them the tools they need to grow into productive citizens.
I selected this organization, because my mother grew up on a farm. However, she had an opportunity to go to school and be successful, but her older siblings did not have that same birthright. In fact, many of them had to drop out of school around the age 10 to work on the farm in order to support the entire family right here in the United States (in the south). As a result, my mother instilled a strong work ethic in my siblings and I and both of my parents taught me that having a good education was the key to a “good” life. As a result, I want children from all over the world to have an opportunity to have a good education and not work for minimum to no wages; I want them to “have a good life” by focusing academics and the social aspects of education.
To work in this field, I would need my Bachelors Degree, and experiences as a Social Worker and experience working in International Affairs is preferred.

  

References

 http://www.ifcw.org/. Retrieved on April 8, 2013

 http://www.ispcan.org. Retrieved on April 8, 2013

http://www.ilo.org. Retrieved on April 8, 2013

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are benefits that is provided by the federal government and administered by DTA. SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program that provides food assistance. SNAP works with State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits.  Food programs such as SNAP provides families and or individuals whom receives benefits with an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card; using this card also minimize the embarrassment of using a paper food stamp because it is more discreet.

All parties interested in applying for SNAP must meet some requirements. For example, households have to meet income requirements that are based on the number of people per household and gross income.    

I chose SNAP because I see many children suffer from poor nutrition. For example, they bring soda and candy to school as a snack. I understand that healthy foods are more expensive and may not be as assessable in urban areas, but the side effects of children whom eat poorly are very disturbing. For instance, children will have less energy, suffer from dental issues, childhood obesity, suffer from numerous vitamin deficiencies, and a host of other issues.  I would like to have a job working with SNAP so that I could conduct workshops to help educate families of the importance of a well balanced meal so that their child(ren) can grow and develop to their full potential and teach them that eating healthy will decrease the risk of preventable diseases.

To work in this field as a councilor, one needs to have a Bachelors Degree and one year of experience in counseling, teaching, and/or guidance in an organized education program.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap.

  WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

Wic is a federally funded program that was established as a pilot program in 1972 and was made permanent in 1974. It was designed to help safeguard the health of low income women, infants, and children up to age five who are at nutrition risk by providing them with vouchers to acquire nutritious foods to supplement diets, provide information in healthy eating, as well as issue referrals to health care facilities. WIC’s target populations consists of low income, nutritionally at risk, pregnant women, woman whom breastfeed (up to infant’s 1^st birthday), non-breast feeding women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends).  

I would like to work in this field because I was a recipient of WIC many years ago. I want to show women that although you are pregnant and are dealing with financial issues, that they can rise above their situation; I am a living testimony. I want to encourage women to take care of themselves and to learn to adopt a healthy lifestyle so that they are healthy and can take care of their children and by them developing a healthy lifestyle; their children will grow into productive citizens.

A Bachelors Degree and one year of experience in counseling, teaching, and/or guidance in an organized education program is needed to work in this field.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development was created to assist unemployed citizens of New Jersey with opportunities to attend school i.e., college/university or trade school to acquire skills that are needed in order to obtain employment in a field that is in demand, and receive temporary benefits upon eligibility as they await employment. Participants of this program can receive a tuition wavier which waves ones tuition, but the participant is required to pay all other expenses.

In addition, councilors are available to assist participants with creating resumes and answer other employment related questions. In order to keep this programs running, customized training funds have been established and are administered by the Division of Workforce Grant and Program Management, Office of Grants Operations.  I would like to work in this field because I would like to be instrumental in assisting people in “getting their lives back on track”. It is unfortunate that many people whom seek support from agencies operated by the state are often mistreat the very people they are to serve. I want people to have a sense of hope and not be spoken to in a condescending manor or less than simply because they are faced with a difficult time.

To work in this field as a councilor, a Bachelors Degree and two years of Social Work is needed.

http:// lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lwdhome/content/LWDNonProfit 

References


http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap. Retrieved on March 29, 2013
 http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic. Retrieved on March 29, 2013
http:// lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lwdhome/content/LWDNonProfit. Retrieved on March 29, 2013

Nicky