The partnership between WAFE Washington Family Engagement (WAFE) and Pathwaves was a natural fit. Vesla Tonnesson, Pathwaves supervisor at WAFE, describes one of WAFE’s core values as “supporting the leadership development of their program participants so that folks can strengthen their own self efficacy and exercise their agency in policy advocacy activities.” Their programs help parents and developing leaders use their voices to impact schools, institutions, and organizations in their communities. This is in direct alignment with Pathwaves’ mission to build the collective power of BIPOC leaders in Washington state.
Hosting a Pathwaves Fellow means having a dedicated staff person to focus specifically on early childhood policy within these programs. Vesla shares, “to be an advocate is to make some waves. In the current political climate, those waves can have more consequences, so it has become even more critical to be strategic with our policy advocacy efforts concerning children and families.” Partnership with Pathwaves allows WAFE to invest in the development of a leader focused on early childhood policy strategy and build capacity within their organization.
For Gemma O’Neil, the Pathwaves Fellowship was the perfect opportunity to develop leadership skills in the policy sector. She already had experience working directly with children and families and became interested in policy through coursework at the University of Washington (UW). Her UW instructor Joel Ryan and former Pathwaves Placement Site Supervisor at Washington State Association of Headstart and ECEAP, encouraged her to apply for the Fellowship. His confidence in her was the push Gemma needed to apply. But it was the prospect of learning in community with other emerging BIPOC leaders that most appealed to her. Reflecting on the cohort model, Gemma shares, “Being a part of a group of people who have similar experiences to me in this type of environment makes me feel strong and confident and powerful.”
Gemma’s passion for early childhood and policy advocacy shone brightly in the interview process. Upon starting the Fellowship, her work at WAFE primarily focused on learning about their programs and building relationships within their community. As the Early Learning Parent Coordinator, it was important for Gemma to gain intimate knowledge of the programs WAFE facilitates for parents and how to engage participants in meaningful ways after completion. Gemma participated in the Institute for Parent Leadership and Advocacy (IPLA) program where she learned from and alongside parents and community advocates. In preparation for this legislative session, Gemma’s primary focus was to plan WAFE’s Advocacy Day in Olympia. Although the event was cancelled due to the weather, it served as a great opportunity for Gemma to hone her leadership skills as a representative of the organization and develop more confidence in her role.
Looking ahead, Gemma will continue to identify ways for WAFE to engage graduates of the IPLA program through listening sessions and focus groups to address the communities’ top concerns through policy advocacy. Gemma shares, “In the last month and a half, I have gained so much understanding and confidence about policy. I now feel confident talking to a group of people about a topic that I am passionate about: early childhood policy. Working with WAFE has made me feel good about where I am and I have solidified the kind of work that I want to do as my career.” The Pathwaves and WAFE teams are eager to tap into Gemma’s enthusiasm for growing into a strong advocate for children and families in Washington state.
