Momvocate Mob

It is critical parents understand the importance of being informed to better be engaged and advocate with strategy!  

Meet Christina Laster, proud Black Woman/Afro-latina, mother, grandmother, civil rights activist, and humanitarian! She was born and raised in San Diego, California where I gained a deep understanding and appreciation for culture and diversity. I graduated from the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice where I earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science then moving on to earn a Master's Degree in Business Administration. Christina has worked for nearly 13 years in the San Diego Unified School District as an early childhood education and a special education para-educator. She is NOW the Policy Legislative Director for the National Parents Union.

Join us as we discuss equity during these unprecedented times. Ms. Bazile has expressed anger over recent  budget cuts within Boston Public Schools , where she addressed the big elephant in the room during a  “equity roundtable”  on Zoom.

Edith is concerned how much more harder it will be to close the achievement gap especially in communities of color. Join us while we think about equity for our students in marginalized communities. This pandemic has only exposed the ugly truth of racial and social inequities, take a listen while we keep it real.

As parents we need a network of other parents to help us feel like our crazy is normal, it is all about sharing the wealth of feelings and resources. Our parent networks help provide us an organic space where as families we can support one another walking the spectrum brick road, Dorthy is not the only one trying to find her way.  It Takes a Village to Raise a Family approach helps us stay mentally stable and empowered to push through the bad days.

Can you believe schools use discriminatory practices to rule out enrollment in certain programs for their "most challenging students"?  Believe it! It happened to our fellow host @bostongirltv while navigating her options for equitable education for her baby girl. BosontGirlTV challenged a program with flawed practices, which resulted in a policy change. Where she also just honored with a "Champion"  Award through by Federation of Children with Special Need at the Visions of Community 2020 Conference.

#autismsprinter #parentambassador #bostongirltv #momvocacy #parentsleadconversations 

The struggle of advocacy comes with a price. The price of always holding yourself and other accountable for your child's need. This means constant emailing, calling folks and organizing. This is exhausting to say the least, but parents of those with unique challenges must do it.  The minute you drop the ball, it feels like you have to start all over again. We do it, but we hate having to do it.  Take a listen we bet you can resonate with the struggles of advocating. 

Are these feelings a two person thing or is it really a "you thing" ?  Sometimes as a parent with children who have unique challenges, it is extremely difficult to decipher your feelings. We tend to see our life so much more worse than those who do are not living our journey. We question if we are capable, worthy and sane. It is okay to feel this way, but just know " YOUR ARE WHO ARE YOU SUPPOSE TO BE". 

Special Needs parents often feel isolated from the world. It feels lonely and you feel misunderstood by those that do not get the life you live.  Let us not  even add trying maintain relationships or friendships. It a while life thing where each day you learn how live one day at time.

One thing about being a parent is truly understanding when feeling are far deeper than what we can bare alone. When do you seek help? Are you scared to seek help? In this episode we discussed how we have battled our own form of depression and how we took some steps to seek supports or none at all. We encourage our listeners to seek help when tour feelings are too much for you to handle on your own.

Season 1 Episode 1

Who says as a parent you are suppose to know everything? Guess what you don't know what you don't know, which is simply okay.  We did not know either, but then we learned. Now we are making an oath to be boisterous.