Profile of a Volunteer

  I have been very fortunate to have had extremely helpful volunteers.  Having a volunteer makes working with children a little stressful.  One volunteer that sticks out in my mind is a parent I had my third year of teaching.  This parent was well known around the school, was always volunteering for the school and was a board member on the PTA.  She not only helped in her children's classrooms, but did various events and worked with other teachers as well.  This parent supported all of the children and the children felt comfortable enough to work with her and talk to her.  

 

 Since this parent was able to work with the school staff, children, and families so well she did man things.  Children would run up to her and giver her hugs and show excitement, staff would be relieved when they saw this parent in charge of certain activities knowing it would be well ran.  Families would bring concerns to her because they knew she was understanding and had a good relationship with the school.  The school was a better place because of this parent.  It was because of this parent that teachers wanted to go above and beyond to help the children in the school.  This parent did not make teaching feel like work, but rather a service you did for the betterment of the children and families.

  After several experiences similar to this one, I have realized that partnering with volunteers is a crucial part of working in advocacy.  Volunteers are just as dedicated to the work in advocacy as I am, but may not be able to make it a full time career.  Volunteers are also not limited to certain rules and can sometimes form bonds that advocates cannot.  Volunteers can also spend the time building relationships than worrying about the politics of the issues.  Volunteers are part of the glue that holds relationships together to form strong bonds.  

Using Social Media to Get Connected

Social media can be a blessing and a curse.  Issues that may have not seen the eyes of many people (i.e. dog abuse. child abuse) are able to be seen in  a close and personal way.  On the other hand social media also gives people ways to attack others and become bullies saying things that they would not normally say because they are behind the safety of their computers.  If used positively social media can reach thousands of people in hours.  It is a great tool to have on your side and to utilize if done so positively.  

  Personally I have had both positive and negative experiences with social media.  I work in dog rescue which has shed some light on the true nature of some people including my friends.  Many of my friends like to share and see the positive things in life, real or not.  I could share something stupid or funny and my friends will all like it or comment.  However as I share the needs and realistic issues in dog rescue and children, I seldom get likes or comments.  To them ignorance is bliss.  

  Another negative experience I had more recently was on Facebook.  I am part of several animal rescue pages and I had take in two stray pit bull mixes that were found on my school campus one morning.  I have worked a lot with pit bulls and know what will happen to them if they make their way to county.  I took these two dogs to my house and kept them there until a foster or rescue could be found.  Long story short I had been posting about the male dog on several pages because an organization took the female.  I already have 7 dogs and not a ton of space.  Well I had had this dog for about two weeks and he was playing with my girls and he got too rough with one of mine and she ended needing stitches (it is a pack thing).  She is totally fine but I was unable to keep this boy dog any more.  I then posted on a page if he didn't find a place he would have to go to the shelter because I could not jeopardize the safety of my dogs.  Some lady started ripping me apart on fb about how terrible I was and constantly bashed me.  I spoke to her through private messaging and she proceeded to be disgusting and negative.  I would almost guarantee that she would not have said a fraction of those things.  All that the post was for was to find this dog a home.  In the end the dog got adopted by a great family :)  

  I do not know a lot about all the social media avenues.  I utilize facebook, but that is about it.  I feel that other social media can be beneficial to advocacy efforts.  Facebook can be used to share articles and pictures of children in the early childcare realm.  Instagram may also be a helpful tool to get messages across through pictures.  Pictures are worth a thousand words and sharing pictures can gather attention quickly. 

  I would definitely use both of these social media tools to help share messages of early childhood.  I would be able to show the world how important the need for change is.  I would use these social media tools to increase my knowledge and understanding of areas affected by poverty.  I already follow several organizations and pages on facebook.  These have already greatly impacted why I chose the path of advocacy.  

  

Since  I don't know a lot about social media, I am open to suggestions of other positive networking ideas. 

Advocacy Messages

https://allourkin.wordpress.com/

  Investing in children is the greatest investment that can be made; yet no one will take a chance on this for sure investment.



http://mn.gov/mnddc/parallels2/posters/index.html

Not only is it important to create investments in education for young children, but for their health as well.  Health is a key factor in dictating long term medical issues for children and special needs situations.



http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/blog/morning-edition/2012/07/advocate-launches-1-million-ad.html

Along with health and education, homelessness has a tremendous impact on children and families.  No child should have to suffer or feel this feeling.  Children are impacted greatly by factors like homelessness.