EDUC 6766 Using Social Media to Get Connected

I believe, in this day and age, social media is both essential to our advocacy causes, as well as highly advantageous. I remember reading a statement in one of Gloria Steinem's books (wonderfully inspiring feminist advocate) about how hard it was to mobilize "back in the day". :) She used the copier and drove around for days hanging flyers and passing out pamphlets. Today, technology really is beautiful with what it does for connection. People are more globally aware than ever before.

I remember being little in middle school when AIM started getting popular. It was so cool to have a computer in the house and I could sit for the hour it took to connect to instant messenger. :) Instant messaging did wonders for my typing and cognitive skills, I can say that. :) Today, my son learned to read and write on his own through being saturated with reading materials and using the internet, YouTube, texting, and games at his discretion. He and his friends never once had forced, formal instruction, flashcards, or worksheets. But I digress.

The platform I am most familiar with is Facebook. Though I am knowledgeable about Twitter and Instagram as well. Today people mainly get their snippets of news off accounts they subscribe to, or from news articles their contacts post. I have noticed throughout this degree program that most websites for organizations have links to connect through social media. This way, they can share all the current happenings. I remember the March for our Lives being all over social media, and the world could watch in real-time. Social media is at the height of social education. It is where everyone's focus is throughout the day. It's how many government strategists run elections nowadays!

Further, this isn't social media, but there are texting platforms as well. I subscribed to Planned Parenthood alerts through my phone. I get texts about bills to sign and news to be aware of. They don't bombard me with emails and texts on a weekly basis, which is very important to note for future advocacy efforts. You don't want to become white noise or an annoyance. You also want to be trustworthy. Never ever give subscribers' information to other organizations.

I am interested to know if anyone else personally uses or has used social media in their work settings as a campaign strategy?

EDUC 6765 The Political Will to Improve Early Childhood Systems

Honestly, the strategy that has most influenced and inspired me is collaboration. Through collaboration Advocacy efforts become exponentially more active, effective, and sustainable. I have two organizations to share that highlight this strategy.

The first is Children Now. I learned about this initiative through my other Advocacy class, and have been very taken with them, their message, their communicative abilities, and their strong ability to collaborate. Their entire mission is based on collaboration. Children Now claims that the fatal downfall of many advocacy efforts is their being so separate and isolated. By joining initiatives together, reaching decision-makers is much more effective. They're based in California and have connected more than 1,650 organizations to speak as one! That's huge.

The second resource I found is Spark Action. They work as a way to mobilize advocacy efforts through social media and the internet predominantly. They are message mobilizers, so to speak. Their work is all about communication and collaboration. This strategy has the ability to spread more awareness, which in turn creates more allies and voices.

The component of Advocacy work that most appeals to me is being a part of an effort that speaks to my heart truth. It's so energizing and uplifting to have a passion and then find that others out there share that passion and are working with it on a global (or even local) scale. It's purposeful. I am eternally grateful to those who have changed my world and life through their selfless efforts, and I want to be that for others. It's heart work.

EDUC 6766 Advocacy Messages

I have never actually visited the Ad Council's website, and am so glad I did! The ideas out there are SO inspiring! It's hard to pick only a few but here they are:

This one has nothing to do with children necessary (except that children and adults alike can benefit greatly from caring for animals) but if there are animal lovers reading this, then you'll appreciate it :)
The Shelter Pet Project Campaign uses the slogan #StartAStoryAdopt. There's a picture of pets who are now all over social media- Toast Meets World, Keyboard Cat, and Hamilton Pug. Social media and the internet itself has pictures and stories about these pets and their unique relationships with their adoptive human parents. The main objective for Shelter Pet Project Campaign is to spread awareness about the need for shelter and rescue pets to be adopted, and the hope that people will make it their first priority when considering getting a pet.
I think their message is great! It's a call to action, which is the effective way to frame an advocacy message. I also feel that coming from a comical and endearing angle adds lightness and welcomes people in more. I know other campaigns that show the horrors and sadness of some shelter pets. It's devastating and definitely a reality. It works to touch hearts and increase empathy for sure. I feel that adding this lightness, though, takes a lot of pressure off the audience, and creates an excitement and wonderment, which is a great way to mobilize!

AdoptUSKids.org used a similar approach in their initiative to find families for the thousands of teenagers in foster care. They used the message "you don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent." Apparently, their latest ads have been using the widely renowned parenting books What To Expect When You're Expecting to spread comical tutorials and guides to raising a teenager. This strategy is similar to the Shelter Pet Project Campaign in that it uses what I'll call, endearing comedy or endearing lightheartedness. The idea of adoption is quite overwhelming, especially when considering an almost fully grown child who has gone through very trying times in their young lives. Just like the Pet Project, they steered clear of the heart-wrenching messages and showed a softer more fun side. By using laughter, people are freer to envision their lives with a teen and wonder about all the greatness and love that can be had in that experience. I am tired of all the negative messages concerning teenagers and teenagehood in general. Let's change that narrative, please.
I am grateful to have drawn this connection between the two ads because I can really see the power in this message strategy. It's so honest and hopeful, and I am interested in considering this angle when coming up with new Advocacy messages myself.

Fatherhood.gov really touches me. I've been seeing the billboard ads all over Portland lately titled, #DadJokesRule with pictures of kids and their dads. I think this society, historically, has hurt a lot of people with its ideas about gender and gender roles. I've heard many people wish they had more connected fathers, and many fathers wish they could connect more. This initiative is just so beautiful. Through a simple societal inside joke like the idea of "dad jokes" paired with pictures of happy fathers and kids, the message is being sent that dad's matter, you matter, you make a difference. This touches me on a personal level and it's warming. Again, endearing humor is utilized. I also learned that it's important to consider audience. All of these ads have the ability to touch and be understood by a wide and diverse audience, which is amazing. It's so interesting to be researching advertising trends!

My Own Capacity

The issues impacting young children and their families that fuel my passion are Children's Rights and accessibility and quality of parent education. I am a supporter of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and would like to be involved in changing the U.S.'s stance against joining. As for quality parent education, my whole world changed when a particular parenting group and philosophy was revealed to me. I believe there is power in visibility and accessibility, and these two aspects give parents a Choice they didn't have before. Before I had particular knowledge, I didn't have the choice to either embrace or disregard it, and that makes ALL the difference.

The resources I have at my disposal that will benefit my advocacy efforts are my connections to parenting groups and information, the resources I have compiled through my graduate studies, and the knowledge I am slowly attaining through researching public policy and government in general.

I hope beyond hope to continue to grow as an effective advocate and professional throughout my lifetime! The more I learn, research, and expose myself to experiences and information, the more I'll continue to grow and that means everything to me. Specifically, I'd like to grow in confidence, This means being confident in my own knowledge and worth, as well as being confident that I am appropriately educated and can stand up for others effectively.

EDUC 6765 Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

The one success story that I found touching was by Ashley Hawkins, reflecting on her childhood at Head Start. Not everyone has fond memories of early childhood programs, and it was really sweet to hear about her and her mom's appreciation of their experience. I especially loved her emphasis on adults encouraging play, and how she pays tribute to her success and happiness as an adult to the growth of her imagination and dreams. This hits me right in the heart. I am a huge advocate of the power of play and the child's right to play. There is magnificent value in early childhood professionals, the public, policy makers, and government officials hearing this, seeing this, and knowing this. A true understanding of the child's mind and play-centered living and learning would change the entire field!
I also found it sweet that her mom worked as a teacher when she attended. There seems to be a popular mindset that a child grows best outside of the home and family. I am a proponent of swinging the view in a different direction. There shouldn't, I believe, be a separation between family and a child's life outside the home. Professionals who understand and treat children and their families as a whole unit really empower families, create stronger partnerships with parents, and help sustain and build a life for that child that doesn't include separateness, but embodies wholeness, fullness, and oneness of identity :)

EDUC 6766 My Role as an Advocate

Motivation?

• I have had strong opinions about certain parenting practices and just a high interest in parenting and children in general since before I reached adulthood. I'd have to say, however, that I really felt the advocacy fire when I became pregnant with my son. I went on such a life-altering journey since becoming a mother. I've learned information I never knew existed, and I am so passionate about creating more awareness for other families.

Advocacy at the micro and macro levels?

• First of all, I think it's important not to overlook the micro level advocacy work. The way I was first introduced to a lot of information I now cherish about children and parenting is because of one person advocating to me. That being said, as a global community, I believe we have a duty to do more than take care of "our own". The micro level can change a life, the macro level can change the world.

What does it take to be a community leader?

• An early childhood community leader needs A LOT of passion. This is definitely not a job you get into because of the money. It's a lot of hard work. You need a good amount of perseverance and patience. The passion, perseverance, and patience of advocates in this field is how so many children and families are now living with the benefits, and how future children and families will hopefully live with more benefits!

Resources?

• Money... funding and human manpower.

Tactics or strategies to mobilize others?

• The most effective leaders have amazing communication and collaboration skills. They are able to share their hearts so openly and clearly that people stop and listen.

Advice?

• Do it! Push aside any fear of failure and just do it, please. I mean, be responsible of course! But definitely take risks. And you don't need to do it alone. Actually, you can't do it alone. First and foremost, form a collective. Relationships are key. But even if you truly feel a truth in your heart and you're having a hard time finding partnerships, then hold tight to that truth, and the right people will come. Goodluck!

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EDUC 6765 Quality

Public opinion through the years sure is a roller-coaster. The ebb and flow of mindsets, viewpoints, policies, practices, and everything else surrounding children and families in society is wildly fascinating. The issue closest to my heart is the general opinion and treatment of children in our society. I dearly hope public opinion changes to a stronger belief system in respecting and cherishing our most vulnerable humans.

• I hope parenting practices become gentler and more connected.
• I hope adults can become more supportive and helpful of each other. 
• I envision family leave from work being provided willingly.
• I wish for all kids to be provided equal access to opportunities in life. May they pick and choose to their hearts' content, but may the options and availability be forever within their rights to grasp.