Granger Parents go to Olympia!

On February 18th, 18 parents and staff from the Granger School District ECEAP program got on a bus and headed over to Olympia to join 400 other early learning advocates for the WSA Head Start & ECEAP Advocacy Day. Granger's ECEAP program serves 71 children and families in a small town in the lower Yakima valley.

We asked them to share their thoughts and pictures, so here it is!

Gabino and Maribel
It was an unforgettable experience, having the opportunity to express our concerns to our representatives, about early education and how having this program helps in the educational development of our kids. I would really encourage other parents and community members to attend next time and also express their concerns about education and how early education would be hurt if funds were to be cut out. Plus our representatives were very attentive to our concerns.

Susana Chavez
Today’s experience was wonderful. I had never had the chance to participate in such an event. I learned a lot about how things work in our state capital. I had a chance to speak to one of the representatives about my concerns regarding ECEAP and childcare. I explained to him how these cuts would affect people like me. I also learned a lot of my state’s history. The state’s capitol building is beautiful. I enjoyed the whole trip, everything was wonderful. One of the things that impacted me was the prayer. I never would have guessed that they still trust in God. Thank you for this experience I will remember it always and I have something to share to my children. I’ve been to the state capital!

Fernando Romero
This was a new experience for me. It was my first time in Olympia; I liked seeing the Capitol and getting to meet the people in charge of making big decisions such as the funding for all the state.

Frank Rosas/ Alma Negrete
It was an experience that not a lot of people get do to. First of all I liked the capitol - it was very nice. Also that we had a chance to talk to the legislators and express ourselves, seeing the possibility that we are to make a difference in our children’s future. I was amazed in seeing the amount of people that showed up!

Lupe & Sergio
The thing that I liked about the trip is that it was the first time meeting all the people that were there - that was very nice and an unforgettable experience, and we would do it next year. The representatives need to know that we care about our kids and we do anything to better it and they know that the other thing it was that they live in the lower valley so they can see that we need their help so our kids can be someone in life. And would really tell other parents to go they would like it very much.

Noel & Mayra
Well first of all we had lots of fun but the most important thing was that we learned how important ECEAP is for our children. This was our first time coming to an event like this one. And we liked it so much we learned many things such as; a parents should know to support ECEAP and let other parents know how important is for our children.

Evelinda Cavasos
Well first and foremost I had a lot of fun on this trip. This was the first time I’ve never came to one of these events. I learned how important ECEAP is to us as parents and our children. I’m here to support ECEAP and hope that the bill gets passed. There are so many children who are in poverty and I hope that all those get the help and schooling that they need to further their education. So my experience on this Advocacy Day was the best and I want to continue attending every Advocacy Day I can attend.

Thanks very much for all the Granger ECEAP parents who came to advocate for their children in Olympia!

Things I Learned in Olympia

Guest Post from James McBride, WSA Parent Ambassador

I went to Olympia full of fire to testify in front of both the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. With my trusty boss man Joel Ryan at one side and fellow Parent Ambassador Elizabeth Grillet at the other. We started in the Senate Ways and Means and sat...and sat...and sat...It seemed like we had been overlooked, but really our group (higher ed/early learning) had run out of time. Unfortunately Elizabeth's incredible ECEAP success story was not heard as she had to leave.

Joel and I waited...and waited...and waited...but no we were not called, we did however learn a few wonderful GEMS!
#1 Sign up for more than one Group! (As we watched more than a few people Testify at least twice.)
#2 We aren't the only people get hit hard by these cuts.
#3 The Senate is proposing a cut to the TANF cash grant.
End the Senate Ways and Means hearing.

Begin House Ways and means Hearing! Joel and I are the first to testify, and of course I am freshly equipped with what I learned in the Senate hearing! After the education group was finished we headed out with Parent Ambassador Coordinator Cecily Jenkins, who had testified with us, by our side. Once we reached the hallway outside the hearing room, I was met by State Representative Steve Conway, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. He asked my name and where I was from, he then informed me that my testimony touched him and he wanted me to E-Mail my testimony to his personal E-Mail address...WOW! how cool is that!!! Needless to say, I did so. Let's see what happens, shall we! See what we can learn spending the evening at hearings in Olympia!