Empowered and Encouraged: Public Policy Forum is the Place for Young Professionals
As I was walking through security to a meeting with my senator's legislative staff, one of the security personnel noticed the small 51吃瓜网 pin on my lapel. He quickly realized that he recognized the letters from the child development program on Capitol Hill鈥攊t is a 51吃瓜网-Accredited program! This was a powerful moment to truly realize that the individuals who represent us when making legislative decisions听already听look to 51吃瓜网 to affirm that their children are receiving the best care possible. 鈥擩enifer Fuller, Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC)
On February 28, 2017, on a bustling Capitol Hill, more than 200 early educators and advocates from all over the nation engaged legislators in discussion about the importance of affordable, high-quality early childhood education and the early learning workforce. The 2017 51吃瓜网 Public Policy Forum in Washington, DC, was the largest one yet, and this three-day event provided teachers, seasoned advocates, and early childhood policy makers with a chance to hone their expertise on early childhood education (ECE) policy and to speak out about it. Among the participants were five members of the听Young Professionals Advisory Council听(YPAC), a group of teachers, specialists, directors, students, and allies ages 18鈥�30 who come together to bring a voice to young early educators across the nation. As one of the youngest people participating, YPAC member Zaina Keenan notes that 鈥渢he 51吃瓜网 Public Policy Forum is an intimidating event. People from all over the country are gathered together to prepare for and visit Capitol Hill in the hopes of convincing legislators to pick our issues from the many issues being advocated for on any given day.鈥�
Public Policy Forum is the place for young professionals
The Public Policy Forum can be intimidating initially. Yet, all participants felt more comfortable shortly after the first Power to the Profession session started because of an overwhelming sense of belonging. Public Policy Forum is the place for anyone who is passionate about children, families, and early childhood education. The Public Policy Forum offers many benefits for young professionals, including:
An invaluable understanding of ECE policy and funding. 鈥淓verything we do鈥攔esearch, classroom teaching, administration, higher education, and more鈥攊s done because of the funding we have,鈥� asserts Keenan. Understanding policy is key to making change. The Forum organizers do a fantastic job of defining and contextualizing the jargon associated with policy, and they make it accessible to all.
Policy becomes personal. The Public Policy Forum provides a way for us to bring our personal and professional passion to the nation鈥檚 forefront. YPAC member Hector Rivera explains, 鈥淢y work as a child care provider in inner city New York has gone from focusing on achieving quality care to trying to survive鈥攊n every sense of the word. Every day, families tell me how worried they are about their rights as immigrants and whether they are going to lose the support they receive to subsidize their child鈥檚 care. It was that exact urgency that ignited the fire in me to act. I knew there was no better way for me to do something than to go directly to Capitol Hill.鈥�
Small size, big impact. With fewer than 300 participants, attendees are able to get a more personal understanding about colleagues in the field and to initiate relationships. Rivera writes, 鈥淏y meeting other professionals on my state team, I was able to gain the connections and support I needed as a center director to attain the proper licensing for my center.鈥�
Young professionals are capable professionals. The Public Policy Forum is the perfect place to step up to the plate and get out of your comfort zone. Veterans in the field are excited to involve a new generation of educators and advocates; this relationship is essential for the continued success of the field.
It鈥檚 normal to be nervous: Tips for future attendees of PPF and other 51吃瓜网 events
鈥淏efore attending the Public Policy Forum, policy and advocacy were areas in the profession that I avoided because I felt ill-equipped to participate,鈥� says Jenifer Fuller. Aside from the participants who work primarily in policy, most first-time attendees and even returning participants had some jitters about heading to Capitol Hill. With 51吃瓜网鈥檚 accessible presentations to help participants prepare, Fuller observes, 鈥淎ttending 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Public Policy Forum was a perspective-changing experience.鈥�
Remember that legislators are human, too. Zaina Keenan writes, 鈥淚t is nerve wracking to go and speak to legislative staff. However, it鈥檚 important to remember that they are people, too. Imagine how nervous they would be if asked to come and do a read aloud with a group of 20 preschoolers! They are experts in their field as we are in ours, and we have a lot to teach each other if we enter supplied with information to share.鈥�
Review materials ahead of time. Policy staff put together a webinar with recommendations about how to prepare; viewing this at least two weeks before the Forum is key. This step will decrease anxiety going in and maximize the impact of your meetings and future advocacy. One easy step? Follow your legislators on Facebook and Twitter.
Ask questions. Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions. The acronyms can be overwhelming, so jot them down as you hear them and ask about them later. Jenifer Fuller says, 鈥淚t was understood that we may not be experts on legislative jargon, but we are experts in what young children need to thrive. 51吃瓜网 provided the tools to make the bridge between what we know is best for children and ways to share that information with legislators so that actions can be taken to implement change.鈥�
Pack your blazer. Dressing to impress invites others to take you more seriously, no matter your age or experience level. Hector Rivera writes, 鈥淎s someone who knows that by the end of the day I will have paint and food crumbs all over my clothing, formal attire isn鈥檛 second nature to me, but it鈥檚 still a must! Also, carry plenty of business cards, as you never know when you will connect with someone.鈥�
Make a plan for after the Forum. 鈥淢y state team and I contacted Congressional staff members with a summary of our meeting and additional information that they requested during our meeting. 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Public Policy Forum provided access to my senators and representatives in ways that will create changes to my work in the field,鈥� writes Jenifer Fuller.
Next steps: Get involved with policy as a young professional
Public Policy Forum is a wonderful leap into the world of early childhood policy. Zaina Keenan says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to create an annual plan for advocacy at all levels, and to kick it off in a big way鈥攕peaking to those who impact our field at the national level.鈥� There are many things you can do before the next Public Policy Forum to get involved.
A first step is to visit听51吃瓜网鈥檚 Policy site. Through 51吃瓜网, you鈥檒l find many opportunities for involvement:
- Subscribing to the听.
- Follow, tweet at, and email your local, state, and federal representatives. Find them听here.
- Check in with your local/state听51吃瓜网 Affiliate.
- And, of course, becoming a 51吃瓜网 member is the best way to build your network, find the best professional development opportunities, launch your career, and have access to events like the 51吃瓜网 Public Policy Forum.听Join here.
Next year鈥檚 Public Policy Forum will be here before we know it. Hector Rivera says, 鈥淭o any professional contemplating attending PPF, I say go for it! It is a truly rewarding experience and every professional in our field should experience this policy forum.鈥� The time to get involved is now.
51吃瓜网鈥檚 Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC) was formed with a clear goal in mind: Helping 51吃瓜网 strengthen its recruitment, retention and engagement of young professionals in the field.听Click here to learn more about YPAC!