Making After School Special: A conversation with Eda on getting involved
Our 2023 Annual Report is out! Check out our first interview from the report. This conversation with Eda, a Head Start Parent and a member of the policy council, underscores the importance of community support when raising a family. Read this, other interviews, and more data in the full report on our website.
How did you first learn about the Head Start program?
Another parent gave me a flier, and I contacted the enrollment coordinator. She helped me to meet everyone and showed me how to complete all the steps to enroll.
And after, I learned how parents could get involved in the program. It was such a beautiful idea as a mom. As a woman, we know how hard it is to find the time to sit together, to discuss, to learn how we can be involved and how we can help the community grow.
Personally, it was a great help because when I came here for the first time, I was by myself. When you come to another country, you need your time. Everything changes while you’re here, so it helped us grow and embrace it. It showed me how we can evolve, or how to react to something new. It shows you how to do things step by step, be present with yourself, your values. You can bring that in the community and everything else. And for me, it was like a big window in the big world. I found much comfort in different ways my child was supported with the daycare and the good mindset.
They approached me, they helped me. If my thoughts were different from other parents’, with the support of the parent meetings, I would realize that every mindset was right, was different, but it was beautiful in the end.
How did the program support you as a parent?
I came to the U.S. from Albania. I I feel like I am a good fit for this program because I was in front of my city, my community. I learned about them – how they work, how they can be close to each other through every concern, every problem, in every support, how they find every solution. Behind the daycare, as a community, we have support. Behind the daycare, we have support if you need any help as an immigrant.
I don't have too many family members here, but I have all of these relationships that we built together. They helped me build this trust in them. In this day, you know how important it is, and it's hard to find this feeling.
How did you get involved in the Policy Council?
We had a parent meeting, and I remember after that a member of the council needed to choose parents to represent Somerville Mystic Center. And I said, ‘Okay, I can do it.’ There is something that I can do as volunteering. I could understand more about the program. Why not? If they need something, I will be glad to have whatever they need.
It was something spontaneous, you know? I didn't think before if I would want to be part of it. At first, the only concern that I had was, ‘How can I manage the time?’ Because I am a mom and I'm working every day. But sometimes we can fill in for each other. A normal meeting would be about benefiting the development of our children, or how the program was doing. And I was happy to participate in every meeting or member council decision. Whatever they needed. And it was a beautiful experience for me.
How did you see your daughter grow after starting Head Start?
I saw a lot of development. I was a little concerned because she is a very energetic child. I was concerned how she would understand the rules of the class, how she would listen.
But I remember when we enrolled her, the first step was an open house. I was there with her and my husband to look at the environment of the class. You know, you have to feel that love the first time seeing it. It felt like home. She loved it. She was very interactive, very happy. The first week she already knew everyone in the class by name. She was enthusiastic. We felt very good, because sometimes you don’t know how they’ll adjust. But still, I think that she really embraced it. It looked like she had been there for a long time, even though it was the first week. I felt surprised, and it was a blessing. She was feeling the same way that I felt the first time that I put my feet in the room – a good energy. It's something simple. Even in the class, the education has love.
Another thing that I need to recognize from the program is that she spoke in English for the very first time in this class. Because my daughter came here at only eight months old, we try to keep our Albanian language as we can. We knew that coming to another country, a child will learn English faster. But we can't let them forget their first language. It’s this knowledge, it's something that you need to do.
I had such a wonderful experience. We feel a little sad that we need to leave to be in kindergarten, to be in a different place. I hope she adjusts in same time that she did in the Head Start program.
A big thank you to Eda and to all of the parents on the policy council who make this work possible! Best of luck to you and your daughter as she moves on to kindergarten!