" Every 36 seconds a child is neglected or abused, every 41 seconds a baby is born into poverty, every 59 seconds a baby is born without health insurance, every minute a baby is born to a teenage mother, every 3 hours a child is killed by gunfire."
The Children's Defense Fund goal is to "renovate the whole house, not just a few rooms of it."
Eunice Kennedy Shriver- Founder of Special Olympics
"People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are the most underserved population today. While our Members of Congress are faced with difficult decisions regarding appropriations, it is critical they understand that Special Olympics and Best Buddies are the sole sources of vital health screenings, inclusive school programs and job placement for this population ... Without federal seed money, more than 500,000 Special Olympics athletes in the U.S. will be without services they depend on to battle the centuries of neglect in the medical field as well as the silent epidemic of discrimination found on school yards and playing fields across our country."
"The right to study in any school? You have earned it. The right to hold a job? You have earned it. The right to be anyone's neighbor? You have earned it."Louise Derman-Sparks- Professor Emeritus Pacific Oaks College, CA
"So the passion I had when I started is, just as great as now as it ever was, maybe greater, because I've seen the wonderful impact that using what I call an anti-bias approach has not just on the children, but on the teachers, who have to kind of figure out who they are and understand themselves and uncover their own discomforts and misinformation. So i see adults finding their voice as a result of doing this work. It's like they reclaim and heal things that they- happened to them in their childhood that maybe no one had helped them work with when they were younger. "Sandy Escobido- Deputy Feld Director, Los Angeles Preschool Advocacy, California Community Foundation
"So when I go to these meetings and actually see parents learning to speak to policymakers, learning how to write letters, learning how to tell their story and share their voice thats what keeps me motivated, regardless of all the challenges going on."
Hello Bridgette,
ReplyDeleteThe quote you posted from Sandy Escobido is great. i am amazed at how empowered our parent's can become, and to think we can have a small part in that, it does keep one motivated. To me, this is one aspect of my work with Head Start that I really enjoy. I have a parent this year who is gaining very valuable public speaking skills which will carry on with her long after her family is no longer in our program.
Bridgitte,
ReplyDeleteI am particularly passionate about the quote from Eunice Kennedy Shriver. She speaks so much about the fact that you need to be the best contribution to society that you can possibly be. I find this to be very true in this quote. You have earned an opportunity to do all these things, but it's what you do with them that is most important! Excellent choices in quotes, and your blog is darling! :)
Trish Gardini
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJoey Mazzei said...
ReplyDeleteBrigette,
How true that teachers have to figure out who they are as Louise Derman-Sparks points out. My hat is off to everyone who works with abused and neglected children! As I quoted from Pearl Buck, I hope our American ways don't fail the child. The grass-roots type of work of Sandy Escobido is wonderful. Thank you for sharing these quotes.
Joey
March 25, 2011 9:57 PM
Brigette,
ReplyDeleteI really like the quote by Sandy Escobido. Parents should feel empowered to give their voice especially when it comes to the lives of their children.
Alissa
Bridgette,
ReplyDeleteI love the quote by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. I feel we all as human beings has earned the right.