They Are All Our Children

We shared this wisdom from Lilian Katz last January, but it is as timely as ever, and worth repeating: Writing in the book Developing People (part of the Art of Leadership series), Katz outlines fourteen points she believes will be helpful for early childhood teachers. Here’s the final point in her list:

“I really believe that each of us must come to care about everyone else’s children. We must come to see that the welfare of our children and grandchildren is intimately linked to the welfare of all other people’s children. After all, when one of our children needs life-changing surgery, someone else’s child will perform it. If one of our children is threatened or harmed by violence, someone else’s child will be responsible for the violent act. The good life for our own children can only be secured if a good life is also secured for all other people’s children. Where are other people’s children right now? Are they having wholesome, caring, and appropriate experiences? The person who will be our president 60 years from now may be in someone’s three-year-old class today. I hope she’s having a good experience! To be concerned about other people’s children is not just a practical matter — it is a moral and ethical one.”

Many of our readers have asked how they can help children and families on the southern U.S. border. Today we have an opportunity to share. You may recall that we featured the Humanitarian Respite Center (HRC) in McAllen, Texas on our Sept/Oct 2018 Exchange magazine cover. The center serves as a short-term stopover for asylum-seeking families, offering hot meals and showers, clean clothing and space to rest and sleep. It also features a "Bright Space" for young children, which is supported by the Bright Horizons Foundation.

The HRC, and its partner organizations along the border, continually need an influx of hygiene, personal care and housekeeping supplies. A nonprofit called Carry the Future has created an Amazon wish list in collaboration with the HRC. You can purchase essential items from this list and ship them directly to the HRC; they will be received and sorted by volunteers and almost immediately distributed to families.

Shop now: http://bit.ly/CTFborder

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