appy 50th Birthday, Head Start

This summer marks Head Start’s 50th anniversary, a historic milestone in our nation’s commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty and opening windows of opportunity to our most vulnerable children. I am among the 32 million Americans Head Start has served since its creation in 1965, and I can speak firsthand to the incredible difference early childhood education makes in a young life.

My parents were grateful for the local Head Start program on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Northeastern Minnesota, where early childhood education was difficult to afford for most families. Head Start immediately brought my entire family into the fold, supporting my early development, engaging my parents, and even welcoming my grandmother to volunteer in the classroom. Our local program was tribally operated, so the teachers and administrators knew the unique needs of families in our local community. I even remember learning the Ojibwe language in the Head Start classroom, an important early connection to the culture and traditions of my community.

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/06/20/happy-50th-birthday-head-start