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The 2002 NAEYC Conference
in New York City
The Nationanl Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC) conference set a new record of attendance in New York
City. I haven't heard the final figure but it is supposed to be around
36,000 attendees. The employees at the Javits Convention center said it
was THE largest convention they've ever had in their history.
And it was crowded. The hallways were a mass of people (mostly
women) and some workshops had people sitting on the cold concrete floors
(the facilities were not very comfortable) pouring out into the halls.
Other workshops were empty or low in attendance. For example, I saw Ella
Jenkins (now a Smithstonian honored musician) in a large hall
and it was almost empty! By the way, I had a chance to have breakfast
with her. She was warm and very approachable. She expressed interest in
the work that we're doing around recruiting more men.
WEDNESDAY
I arrived on Wednesday. I LOVE New York City! It's a great place full
of humanity. And great food to be found at 3 AM! Went around exploring
the sites and seeing where all the workshops and our reception was going
to be. It was fun seeing all the people from NAEYC and seeing old friends.
It was also the first time that Josie (my wife) attended with me in over
20 years of my attending NAEYC workshops!! She loved it, too.
THURSDAY
There were many workshops at the conference about men and children. The
first workshop led by Rodney West from San Diego and Michelle Soltero.
The few, the proud: Men in child care – Understanding the roles,
impact, and relationships of male workers in the early childhood setting
was well attended. It also was a great introduction to the conference.
I saw several people from this e-list there.
There were workshops about father's and fatherhood programs that were
sponsored by the National
Practitioner's Network for Fathers and Families (NPNFF) on
Thursday.
FESTIVAL OF ORGANIZATIONS
In the early evening there were hundreds of organizations that set up
tables at the convention center overlooking the Hudson River. Besides
numerous organizations, the Interest Forums and Caucuses were there.
It was like a reunion being able to see old friends
who have been working on their issues for years. The Latino, Lesbian,
Gay, Bi and Transgender, Black Caucus, Diversity and Equity and our group
the Men in Education Network (M.E.N.). I want to thank Josie Winship and
Michael Luft for helping at the table. We had a steady flow of traffic.
It's always a great place to meet people and see old friends. Several
men and women who had attended past caucus workshops and meetings stopped
by to say hello.
FIRST CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY
NAEYC
has been around since 1926 and the Men's Caucus was started in 1974. We
have over 103,000 members. But only about 4,000 are men. For the first
time in NAEYC history, we were able to have the different groups of underrepresented
people come together for a celebration of our diversity.
The Black Caucus, Diversity and Equity, Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender, Latino and M.E.N. Interest Forums gathered together
for a reception. We ordered ice cream for 40 people. Over 200 showed up!!
See photos of the
event.
Each group honored people that have contributed to the
cause of the Interest forum. The M.E.N. Interest forum honored Coleman
Baker as a Champion of children for working in the field for so long and
supporting the work of men in the lives of children. Jeffry Robbins did
a great job acknowledging Coleman's years of service. Moises Roman was
honored as a man who works directly with children. Both were totally surprised
and pleased with the awards.
Each of the other groups gave some really touching and
funny comments about their honorees. The Diversity and Equity and the
Latino Interest Forums didn't have awards this year, but, said, after
seeing what others did, that they really want to give out awards next
year.
What was so exciting for me about the reception (besides
the GREAT ice cream) was that it was such a grand mix of people with everyone
having such fun. I also want to thank Josie, my wife, for providing the
music.
At the beginning of the reception, Mark Ginsberg gave
a welcoming talk. I said a few things about the groups coming together.
And each of the Interest Forums had an opportunity to welcome people to
the event. Several board members and staff of NAEYC and the former Executive
Director, Marilyn Smith, were there. The event was at the Hilton and it
ran from 7:30PM until about 10PM. And everyone is saying, "Let's do it
again in Chicago 2003!"
FRIDAY
There were numerous workshops about men working with children and male
involvement. Moise Roman and Gerardo Soto, from the UCLA Child Care Services
from California presented: Men in child care: Recruiting, retaining,
supporting. An experience oriented discussion. They have offered this
interactive workshop in previous conferences and is always well received.
There was lots of discussion about the issues about men teaching.
(An unfortunate problem this year was overlapping workshops.
The seminar that I coordinated was happening at the same time!)
Men in the lives of children. Part 1: Research and
Policy. Part 2: Practice was a panel discussion with Mark Ginsberg,
NAEYC Executive Director, as facilitator. It was an very interesting panel
presentation with James Levine - The
Fatherhood Project, Vivian Gadsden - National
Center on Fathers and Families, Lemuel Watson - Call
Me Mister, Bryan Nelson - M.E.N. Interest Forum,
Joe Jones - NPNFF.
See
photos of seminar.
Bruce Cunningham led a workshop titled: Jump-starting
male involvement in your organization: Successful strategies and activities.
It was an interesting workshop with some very practical information.
INTEREST FORUM MEETING
Later in the afternoon, the M.E.N. Interest Forum held its annual meeting.
Many people attended (this event is meant for both men AND women) and
after introductions, the group discussed various topics.
Mark Ginsberg, NAEYC Executive Director, stopped by
to talk with the group. One of the primary questions for Markk was about
developing a Position Statement about Men in the lives of children.
The group also discussed ideas for workshops at the
NAEYC 2003 Conference. Moise Roman and Gerardo Soto agreed to coordinate
next year's annual awards.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, Barry Bussewitz presented his workshop: Can homophobia
be cured? An exploration of anti-homosexual hostility as a social problem
concerning early childhood educators. There is always thoughtful and
meaningful discussion during Barry's workshops.
Join us NEXT year 2003 at the NAEYC Conference in Chicago!
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Moises Roman and Coleman Baker 2002
recipients of the M.E.N. Interest Forum "Champions of Children"
Awards.
Coleman Baker from Vermont and Moises Roman from California
were honored this year at the National Association for the Education of
Young Children 2003 conference in New York City.
There are two awards. The first is to recognize a man
or woman has demonstrated through their work support for men working with
children. The second award recognizes a man that works directly with young
children and has furthered the work of increasing and supporting men working
with young children.
Jeffry Robbins presented the award to Coleman. He had
gathered information about him and presented the following:
COLEMAN
BAKER - LICENSOR IN VERMONT
Jeff Robbins, director of Dartmouth Child Care Center,
Hanover NH presented the award.
"Unaccustomed to public speaking as I am (actually,
most of my addresses are limited to evening audiences of a handful of
sleepy child care providers), I'd like to introduce: Coleman Baker, Licensing
Chief, Child Care Services Division of Vermont Social and Rehababilitation
Services.
I hope you don't think I have enough brain cells left
to do this without notes. In some places, there's the wrong side of the
tracks. In this case, Coley lives on the wrong side of the River (by the
way, Coley buddy, I'm wearing a tie for you), thus I couldn't get his
resume or employee file so I had to rely on his co-workers - much more
amusing, so Coley, if things in your office are a bit of a shambles when
you get back, you'll know why.
We think he went to college but it hasn't been verified.
[Mr. Baker received a B.A. from Cornell College, Mount Vermont, Iowa
in 1968]. He did manage to pick up a Masters in Public Administration.
We do know he started his career as VISTA volunteer with the Oglala Sioux
tribe way back in 1969. Can anyone remember where they were in 1969? That
puts Coley in college during the summer of love, which is another amusing
thought.
Early 70s - he came to our side of the River as founding
director of the CCUV in the good old days of day care. 1974 - emigrated
to Vermont as licenser and started climbing the ladder.
1982 - developed Vermont regulations for Family Child
Care.
1983 - Bush Leadership Fellowship, Center for Early
Education and Development at the University of Minnesota - sounds important.
1987 - organized the New England Resort Child Care Conference
and has been held in Vermont for the past 15 years (big stuff) the Division's
first positive joint venture. Still going on building bridges - he's that
kind of guy.
Early 90s - clawed his way to the top as licensing chief
- good thing; if you want the straight story, call Coley. The chief is
on our side of the River, honest to God. I can't remember who the chief
is.
Done his share of writing and publication. Most significantly,
in my mind, comprehensible Child Care Licensing Regulations. Contributed
to seminal work: Men in Child Care & Early Education, A Handbook for Administrators
edited by Bryan Nelson and Bruce Steppand in 1992.
Presented a gazillian times including here, yesterday
on an issue in which he has done a lot of work - Regulations & Providers
- Sharing a Common Goal to Reduce Child Abuse and False Allegation. More
bridge building.
I bet he's won a lot of awards - one of them was the
Kit Sorrell Award from Vermont AEYC (whatever that is). Leader in promoting
the inclusion and humane treatment of men in the field. Recently, he's
been integral in forming a working group to increase men's involvement
in Early Childhood Education entitled, "Who Cares? Vermont Men Do."
It could equally as well have been called, "Who Cares? Coley Does."
By the way, they let me across the River for the one,
which is another kind of bridge building. What kind of a guy is Coley?
Here's what one of his colleagues says: "Well, Coley is getting ready
to retire. There are rumors that he's having a problem with this idea
so, to recognize his various achievements, particularly in supporting
men in the field and for being and all around nice guy to Coleman Baker
is just right."
Bryan Nelson read messages that came from Moises' children
and staff at the UCLA early child care program.
MOISES
ROMAN - TEACHER AT UCLA
"Moises - he's so funny. He's always tricking us to see if we're
listening. Like at group time, he says, 'Put your hands on your knees.'
Then he puts his hands on his ears! (Group laughing) Yeah! And when it's
the Mystery Box? He says, 'Clue number 5!' and there IS NO clue number
5. He's just so funny!
Juanita has worked with Moises for about 5 years in two of their centers.
Shortly after we saw the Young Children magazine featuring men
in child care in which Moises was quoted, she came into the children's
bathroom where Moises was helping a child. The incident took her back
- "So - isn't this where I first met you, in the bathroom cleaning
poop? Now here you are a star - and still cleaning poop! I think you've
come full circle!"
Moises is one of the teachers videotaped in the HeadsUP reading series.
We had a chance for a "sneak preview" of the video at the CAEYC
conference before the series aired for the first time. Our whole staff
was there and we were really excited about Moises' role in the video.
But one person was missing from the show - Moises. When I asked him where
he had been that afternoon, he said, "I know what's in the video,
but I've never been to Sacramento before. I went to see the State Capitol."
These stories seem very characteristic of Moises - funny, hard working,
involved in every part of center life and not overwhelmed by his own importance."
We're pleased to have awarded both Coleman Baker and
Moises Roman. See photos of
the awards.
The winners from 2001 were Bruce Cunningham from Washington
and Bruce Sheppard from Oregon.
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