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

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

We are kicking off our end of year Annual Friends & Family Campaign and need your support!  Our campaign funds vital support for farmworker families – such as the Michael P. Murphy Family Emergency Assistance Fund and our pro bono immigration services practice. In 2015, ECMHSP offered Meiby, a former Head Start parent, pro bono immigration services to apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).  After multiple immigration lawyers had given her no hope of becoming

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

As a child, Nohemi Montalvo attended one of our Head Start programs in Virginia’s Eastern Shore.  Before going off to college, she worked at our ECMHSP Cheriton Center as a Bilingual Caregiver for about six weeks.  I invite you to learn more about her story. What is your family’s background? Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to introduce myself.  I have seven family members in my family including me.  My parents worked in the tomato fields for three years in

ECMHSP is excited to announce the release of our 2018 Annual Report, which unveiled our new logo and brand identity.  The report showcases the great success ECMHSP experienced in providing comprehensive and high-quality services to farmworker families along the East Coast. Cover of the ECMHSP 2018 Annual Report Some of the highlights from this year’s report include: An overview of how our Practice Based Coaching (PBC) process is strengthening our teachers in the classroom Tot

I recently had the opportunity to conduct a phone interview with Cecilia Zuniga, one of our team members at the ECMHSP Semmes Center, located in Alabama.  Keep reading to learn more about her professional growth since joining East Coast Migrant Head Start Project in 2014. Please tell me about your background. How did you start working for East Coast Migrant Head Start Project? At the age of 19, I moved from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico to the United States.  At first, my famil

On Friday, March 1, Representative Chuck McGrady of North Carolina’s House of Representatives met with ECMHSP staff Jenny Guzman, NCDS Head Start Administrator, and Carrie Jo Fiene, Hendersonville Center Director, at the Underground Baking Company.  This downtown Hendersonville bakery is one of Representative McGrady’s favorite places to have coffee and pastries, and we enjoyed the opportunity to share with him the services ECMHSP provides to agricultural families in and arou

Please tell me about your background.  How did you start working for East Coast Migrant Head Start Project? Before moving to Raleigh to work for ECMHSP, I was living in Arkansas.  My son Bryson went to a Head Start center called Child Development Incorporated, located in Russellville, Arkansas.  He attended from the age of three until almost the age of six.  He was advanced and went to the gifted and talented classroom; he’s academically focused.  During Bryson’s 7th grade ye

I recently had the opportunity to interview Mercedes Hernández, the Child and Family Health Manager at East Coast Migrant Head Start Project for almost three years.  Before her last day, we talked about her experience since starting with us in September 2016. How did you first learn of the position you are currently in? I have a friend who had worked for East Coast Migrant Head Start Project before. She had worked in the North Carolina Direct Services region and forwarded the

I recently had the opportunity to conduct a phone interview with Iralda Badillo, one of our team members at the ECMHSP Bowling Green Center, located in Florida West.  Keep reading to learn more about her professional growth since joining East Coast Migrant Head Start Project. Can you please tell me about your background? I was born in Mexico and came to the United States when I was eight-years old. We arrived in Jacksonville, Georgia during the tomato season.  My parents work

Sharee Harris is a preschool teacher at our ECMHSP Fort Pierce Center in Florida.  She attended our administrative self-assessment in Raleigh last week.  She shares her experience in this interview. What is your story at East Coast Migrant Head Start Project? My cousin told me about the opportunities at East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, so I applied straight out of high school.  I was hired nineteen years ago, in December 1999, as a substitute teacher for the ECMHSP Fort

We are thrilled to kick-off our end of year Annual Friends & Family Campaign. Our campaign funds vital support for farmworker families – such as the Michael P. Murphy Family Emergency Assistance Fund and our pro bono immigration services practice. You can learn more about the services and support we provide by visiting our website: http://www.ecmhsp.org. This year we have set a goal of $25,000.  We know you will help us reach it.  Our 2018 Annual Friends & Family Campaign wil

Christina Arnold has been a part of East Coast Migrant Head Start Project since May of 2017.  I recently had the opportunity to conduct a phone interview with her.  Keep reading to learn more about why she’s such a key team member for ECMHSP. Can you please tell me a little bit about your story at East Coast Migrant Head   Start Project? I had spent seven months as a substitute bus driver for the Hamilton County School District in Florida. One day during our regular morning m

Daniel Jaime’s childhood memories always take him back to the fields.  He was the youngest of five boys.  His mother was a single mother, who despite facing many obstacles as a migrant farmworker, always stressed the importance of getting an education.  Check out my recent phone interview with Daniel. Could you tell me a little bit about your background? I was born in Winter Haven, a city in Polk County, Florida.  I was part of a migrant farmworker family.  I recall spending

I recently had the opportunity to conduct a phone interview with Rosa Cendejas, one of our team members at the ECMHSP Fort Pierce Center in Florida.  Keep reading to learn more about her professional growth since joining East Coast Migrant Head Start Project in 1997. Could you tell me more about your background? I migrated from Mexico to the United States in February of 1986 and worked picking oranges in Fort Pierce, Florida for six years.  In 1997, I first heard of East Coas

Marimar Ramirez is the eldest of three children in a farmworker family.  Her parents have been working in the fields for more than 20 years, and Marimar began to follow in their footsteps until one day, while working in the fields, a coworker told her about East Migrant Head Start Project.  This conversation changed the direction of her life.  Keep reading to learn more about Marimar’s story from my phone interview with her. Marimar and her daughter Natalia (7). Tell me a lit

When Idalia has flashbacks of her childhood, many of those memories take place in the fields.  Some seasons she lived in Ohio, Michigan, and Texas.  She is currently the Health Disabilities Services Coordinator at the ECMHSP Palmetto Center in Florida.  I recently had the opportunity to learn more about her and the work she does for East Coast Migrant Head Start Project. Can you tell me a little bit about your background? My parents are both from Mexico and have been farmwork

Ramona De Loera never had an easy life.  She is one of ten children and from the age of eight, her parents brought her to the fields where she helped with the work however she could. As she grew older, balancing her school work with farm work became more and more difficult.  Ramona failed the ninth grade because her parents pulled her from school for weeks at a time to help the family in the fields.  By the time she reached senior year of high school, she knew she wouldn’t be

At East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, we greatly appreciate those individuals who dedicate their professional careers to serve our farmworker families.  Floria Pacheco became part of the ECMHSP family in 1986.  After 31 years of dedicated service to farmworker families, she has retired.  We are grateful for all the years that she’s been a leader with us. We recently were able to chat with Floria about her time with ECMHSP. How did you begin your career at ECMHSP? In Novem