Advocacy in Action

HEAD START ADVANTAGE
Our Illinois Advocates for Head Start / Early Head Start making visits to The Hill
NHSA SEPT 2024 FALL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE / WASH, DC 


 Gathered to bring the HEAD START ADVANTAGE message to 'The Hill'


Visiting US Rep Nikki Budzinski (D-13) office


Visiting US Rep Danny Davis (D-7) 


Leadership and Advocacy are important - being an Influencer can make a difference! 


Visiting US Rep Mike Quigley (D-5)


Visiting US Rep Lauren Underwood (D-13) office



NHSA’s 2024 Fall Leadership Institute is a four-day deep dive into the policy and advocacy issues that will impact Head Start for years to come. 


 

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Representing Riverbend Head Start & Family Services above were: Veneta Wadlow (Center Operations Coordinator), Jody Warren (Center Supervisor, Granite City North), Paige Simmons (Lead Family Advocate, Granite City South), and Samantha Jolliff (Policy Council member).  IL State Senator Ericka Hariss (R-56th District) welcomed the Riverbend Head Start Advocates to the KIDS FAIR event on June 15th in Granite City. This is an excellent example of how to easily advocate locally to increase awareness for Head Start and Early Head Start services!




(Pictured above L-R): Veneta Wadlow (Riverbend Head Start & Family Services) along with Leasia S. and Samantha J. (both active Policy Council Parent Members), with their children, shown here meeting with State Rep. Amy Elik (R-District#111) in her Alton Illinois office on June 6, 2024.   #PoweredByHeadStart - "It was wonderful to learn of Rep. Amy Elik's support of Head Start being at the table around any transitions toward the new overall state child care system!" 











 

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Delivering Head Start / Early Head Start messages face to face in WASHINGTON, D.C.


Pictured above are IHSA constituents attending the January 2024 NHSA Winter Leadership Institute;
among their many Hill Visits, was a meeting with United States Senator Dick Durbin. 



2023 Fall Leadership Institute - our Illinois contingent making Hill Visits and bringing a strong voice to Congress! 


IHSA Parent Ambassadors getting their messages heard on both state and federal levels!



FEDERAL LEVEL: your Congressional Members are listening!

"I am excited to tell you that we had a visit today with Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL District #14). We spoke with her regarding the importance of Head Start in Will County, Illinois and the devastating effects proposed cuts would have on the program if passed by congress. Congresswoman Underwood appreciated hearing our concerns. She toured the facility and asked questions regarding programs offered for children and their families. I felt very good about her visit, and she expressed appreciation for the work that we are doing on behalf of children and families."  - Kathy Fudge-White, Director of Early Childhood Services / Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet 
(Pictured with Congresswoman Lauren Underwood)
  
Also pictured with Congresswoman Underwood (clockwise, below) is: 
Ryan Johnson, Senior Site Supervisor / Felman Head Start Center, and Angie Lee, Assistant Director, Early Childhood Services and Vinita Voss, District Director for Rep. Underwood 

  

 

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STATE LEVEL: we are on-site in districts with our General Assembly Officials!

 
Enjoying the final days of summer with constituents of the 16th District during the End of Summer Bash: 
State Senator Willie Preston and IHSA Parent Ambassador Mykela Collins! 



[Photo collage being re-formatted / re-inserted here for caption below]
IL State Majority Leader / State Rep Robyn Gabel visited a Childcare Network of Evanston Head Start partner site - Swift Child Care Early Childhood Centers in Skokie and met students, wonderful staff and excellent leadership!  (Pictured with Rep. Gabel is Sam Detch, Site Director, and her Chief of Staff Diane Goldring ).