#ECMHSP

Advancing the Lives of Farmworkers in South Carolina

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
4 min

Advancing the Lives of Farmworkers in South Carolina

Michael Edmonds is a 2005 College of Charleston graduate. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, he joined the United States Peace Corps. Michael started his career with East Coast Migrant Head Start Project during the 2012-2013 season. Please read about our recent phone interview with him. Michael, can you share information about your background? I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. Following college, I served in Guatemala as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer. I work

Alcanzar el sueño americano a través de la educación

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
2 min

Alcanzar el sueño americano a través de la educación

Por motivo del Mes de la Herencia Hispana, conversamos con Carlos Klinger, Miembro de la Mesa Directiva de East Coast Migrant Head Start Project. Carlos Klinger nació en Arica, Chile. Como muchos, llegó a Estados Unidos con la meta de cumplir el sueño americano. Después de muchos años de sacrificio, formó una empresa de contabilidad que en la actualidad es muy exitosa. El acceso a la educación siempre fue una gran preocupación para Carlos, especialmente en los primeros años y

Guest Post: ECMHSP’s Journey to Implementing the Planned Language Approach (PLA)

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
2 min

Guest Post: ECMHSP’s Journey to Implementing the Planned Language Approach (PLA)

Written by Consuellis Hawkins-Crudup, ECMHSP School Readiness Manager. ECMHSP’s presentation at the 2020 NMSHSA National Conference, which took place March 6-11, in San Diego, California. On October 18, 2019, I was invited to present the ECMHSP Journey to Implementing the Planned Language Approach (PLA) model at the OHS School Readiness Institute in Washington, DC, because we were the only grantee in the country consistently using the model. PLA provides Head Start programs

Guest Post: Community Outreach in Alabama

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
2 min

Guest Post: Community Outreach in Alabama

Written by Sandra Hernandez, ECMHSP Family Community Partnership Specialist for the Alabama Region. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business. Sandra has eight years’ experience working for the migrant community at the Mexican Consulate and at a community health center. Left to right: Tami Culver, Deputy Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Sandra Hernandez, ECMHSP Family Communit

Our Families Return to the North Carolina Fields

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
3 min

Our Families Return to the North Carolina Fields

We recently talked to Patti Kingery, North Carolina Head Start Administrator, about the challenges and opportunities in anticipation of our center openings in three weeks. How have the last few weeks been in preparation for the start of remote services in North Carolina? Over the past two weeks, the North Carolina team, together with support from colleagues in Alabama and Florida, were able to complete applications for more than 100 migrant and seasonal farmworker children.

ECMHSP’s YouTube Learning Channel: Bringing Our Teachers to the Home

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
4 min

ECMHSP’s YouTube Learning Channel: Bringing Our Teachers to the Home

For more than one month now, we have had to adjust to a new way of working. This temporary “new normal” has brought many challenges. But it also has provided us with wonderful opportunities to connect with our families in new and innovative ways. One of our new innovations was inspired by our Chief Executive Officer, Maria Garza. She envisioned an ECMHSP Learning Channel on YouTube. Her vision was brought to life by Christine Alvarado, Consuellis Hawkins-Crudup and educat

The National Emergency Brings Out the Best in Us!

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
6 min

The National Emergency Brings Out the Best in Us!

On March 17th, ECMHSP transitioned from in-center services to farmworker families in Florida to remote educational and nutritional support. This transition has required a tremendous effort on behalf of the entire project. One leader, among many, who has played a key role in navigating these uncharted waters is Christine Alvarado, our Chief Innovation Officer. Please read our recent phone interview with her. How did the senior management team at ECMHSP make the difficult de

Changing the Lives of Farmworker Families with Cesar Chavez

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
4 min

Changing the Lives of Farmworker Families with Cesar Chavez

In 1968, Dr. José Villa was a freshman at the University of Oregon. There, he helped start a student group called the Chicano Student Union that would forever change his life. Why was this group needed? We were looking at increasing the enrollment of Mexican-American students at the University of Oregon. Out of almost 15,000 students, we maybe had 15 to 20 Mexican-American students. We went through the University’s Student Association to request funding for an office. Thr

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
4 min

Learning the Value of an Education

Irma and her husband are picking oranges in Wimauma, Florida. Picture was taken in 2011, while Irma is six months pregnant with her son Eduardo. Farmworker, Irma Mendoza, is an important leader at East Coast Migrant Head Start Project. She serves as the President of our Policy Council and as a member of our Board of Directors. We recently had the opportunity to learn more about her journey to the United States, her experience as a farmworker, and her hopes for the future. C

From the Fields to the Board Room: A Window Into the World of Board Member Nilda Soto

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
5 min

From the Fields to the Board Room: A Window Into the World of Board Member Nilda Soto

On February 18, Nilda Soto was elected to serve on East Coast Migrant Head Start Project’s Board of Directors. She has more than 30 years of experience working with our migrant farmworker community. Nilda is currently the Manager for the Farmworker Career Development Program with Polk County, Florida School District. The goal is to improve the lifestyle for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Please keep reading to learn why she’s such a passionate advocate for our families.

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
4 min

Continuing the Legacy

An Interview with ECMHSP’s New CEO, Maria Garza Left to right: Sandra Carton, Regional Manager, Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Region XII – Office of Head Start, Dr. Villa, CEO Emeritus, and Maria Garza, new ECMHSP Chief Executive Officer. Maria Garza has recently joined East Coast Migrant Head Start Project as its Chief Executive Officer. Garza, a longtime farmworker advocate and experienced government and non-profit leader, assumed day-to-day leadership of the organization o

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
2 min

Guest Post: Wellness Matters

Tabitha Shelton has been East Coast Migrant Head Start Project’s Disability Services & Mental Health Manager since February 2018. She earned a Master’s in Special Education at Arkansas Tech University. Last week, our Raleigh Headquarters hosted a weeklong training where Content Area Managers train Regional Level Specialists on service delivery manual updates and changes. The participants included: Head Start Administrators, Director of Enrollment, Directors of Program Opera

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
2 min

Guest Post: Family Engagement in Action

Sofia Baucom is the Family Services Manager at East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, a migrant and seasonal Head Start grantee committed to excellence in serving children and families in their areas of need from a family-centered approach. Sofia’s been with ECMHSP since 2002 and started her role as Family Services Manager in 2006. She has extensive experience working with special populations across the Americas. The foundation of our program services are the parents and gu

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
4 min

Guest Post: Giving 2020 a New Vision

Written by Julio Garcia, the Health & Disabilities Administrator for PathStone Corporation, our delegate agency serving families in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He previously held the role of Health & Disabilities Coordinator for five years. Julio is currently taking Human Anatomy and Microbiology classes while working to become a registered nurse. I am fortunate enough to write that this season we have seen little in the way of health concerns. The children that migrated

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
2 min

Guest Post: Mental Health Comes First

Participants included: Disability Services & Mental Health Manager, Curriculum Program Development Specialist, Early Childhood Education Coaches, Director of Human Resources, Benefits Manager, Director of Program Operations East, North Carolina Direct Services Head Start Administrator, Assistant Head Start Administrator, Early Childhood Education Specialist, Curriculum Coordinator, Family Services Specialist and (8) Center Directors from all North Carolina Direct Services’ ce

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
3 min

A Brighter Future in Indiantown

At ECMHSP, we are proud to serve families who speak indigenous Mexican and Central American languages as their home language. These languages represent a large mix, including Mixteco Alto, Mixteco Bajo, Zapateco, Canjobal, Mam, Otomi, Nahuatl, Acateco, and Triqui. I recently interviewed Maria, whose daughter attends our ECMHSP Indiantown Center. Please keep reading to learn more about her story. Could you tell me about your family and culture? I’m from Concepción Huista, H

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
4 min

A Family’s Dedication to Serve Others

Belinda Verdin has been working with East Coast Migrant Head Start Project since 2006. Her story is unique, as she works with three of her siblings at the ECMHSP Chandler Mountain Center in Alabama. The family is very passionate about supporting the ECMHSP mission. Please keep reading to learn more about my interview with Belinda. Left to right: Belinda and Maria. Can you tell me about your background? In 1992, my family and I moved to the United States from Tula, Tamaulip

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
4 min

Remember Where You Came From

Laura Bush’s visit to one of our Head Start centers in the early 2000s. Pictured from left to right: Christine Alvarado, former Board Chair Kathy Freudenberg, former First Lady Laura Bush, former ECMHSP CEO Rafael Guerra, and former Senator Elizabeth Dole. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to learn more about the organization’s Latino leaders. Christine Alvarado, ECMHSP’s Chief Innovation Officer, shares insights about the farmworker community we’ve bee

Guest Post: The Importance of Overcoming Child Adversity

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
2 min

Guest Post: The Importance of Overcoming Child Adversity

The ZERO TO THREE Annual Conference took place October 2-4, 2019, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This conference is for early childhood educators and clinicians to explore the world of early childhood education development through research-informed and competency-based sessions. My poster presentation was regarding Childhood Adversity and the long-lasting, negative developmental and health impacts on early childhood education. Childhood Adversity includes Social Determinants o

ECMHSP Website

Nov 3, 2021
3 min

Celebrating Our Heritage

As National Hispanic Heritage Month is upon us, we wanted to learn how our ECMHSP familia feels about this month of celebration and what opportunities our community has to embrace it. Please keep reading to learn about ECMHSP’S Board of Directors President, Dr. David Conde, as he will share how this month-long observance has evolved throughout the years. What motivated you to join ECMHSP Board of Directors? During my time as the Associate Vice Chancellor at East Carolina Univ

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