February 13, 2023
A Black female born and raised in the United States cannot easily escape being othered. I have never truly felt safe, so I learned quickly to be brave. In any community, I stand out for all the ways I don’t fit in and possibly more for the ways that I do. In predominantly white spaces, […]
More »February 13, 2023
Since the day my son Charles came into this world, I’ve advocated for him to receive all the resources he deserves to live a great life. My advocacy only strengthened when psychiatrists diagnosed Charles at two years old with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), a behavioral disability that causes him to act out and defy authoritative […]
More »February 13, 2023
Imagine sitting at your breakfast table on a Saturday morning. You see the sun shining through the windows, hear feel-good music playing from the radio, and take that deep breath of relief that only a weekend morning can bring. Then, you notice an email from your child’s teacher, and suddenly, that calm and cool Saturday […]
More »January 20, 2023
I attended my first PAVE meeting in December 2019. I was certain that I was passionate about educational outcomes, but I was still unaware about the work of PAVE as an organization. Nevertheless, during that first meeting, I saw just how serious parents were about their children’s education and the education of other children throughout the […]
More »January 13, 2023
My family is no stranger to the impact mental health issues have on a home. Ten years ago, my husband gained full custody of his nine-year-old son. Though my husband’s relationship with his ex-wife felt unsalvageable, his son maintained a relationship with his mom. However, between the custody battle and the constant bi-weekly move from […]
More »January 13, 2023
As we ring in the new year, I know I’m not alone in taking some time to set a vision for the year ahead and thinking about what I want to be true at the end of 2023. Not just for myself, but also for my family and community. I want my kids and ALL […]
More »December 19, 2022
Zulma’s blog post was originally published by the D.C. Policy Center for their D.C. Voices publication. You can read the full article HERE. My daughter was in kindergarten when I first noticed she was struggling in school. The work the teacher assigned was challenging for her, and her confidence level was low. When […]
More »November 22, 2022
Mental health has always been an important issue to me. But now, after experiences with my daughter that I detailed in the Washington Post, and experiences in my own community, I see more clearly how critical school-based mental health resources are. Mental health plays a crucial role in how students show up to school, and […]
More »June 30, 2022
When the United States Supreme Court was established over 230 years ago, only white men could sit on the court and uphold the Constitution and ideals of this great nation. So, you can only imagine my excitement when months ago, I watched a Black woman, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, confirmed to take her place at […]
More »June 16, 2022
It doesn’t matter if it’s a primary or a general election, rain or shine, in person or by mail: my kids are always there as I fill out and cast my ballot. My kids come with me to vote because I want them to see just how crucial of a right it is. Family members […]
More »June 4, 2022
If you know me, you know when I have a chance to advocate for opportunities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field – I’m there. So, in 2017, when a friend of mine shared about an upcoming parent-led event (the 2017 PAVE Parent Policy Summit) that would include conversations about STEM programs, I […]
More »May 9, 2022
I often think about ways Out-of-School Time (OST) programs complement mental health. I believe that OST programs – especially ones centered around physical activity – benefit our children’s mental, spiritual, and emotional health. This is not to say that academic-based OST programs are not beneficial to mental health; they are just as important to supporting […]
More »March 15, 2022
I’ll never forget the moment when the officer of the corrections facility I was in ordered me to report to the Chaplin’s Office. Because only a few moments later, I was informed that my unborn child, who my wife was pregnant with at the time, did not make it through the delivery. I returned to […]
More »March 15, 2022
My advocacy for School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) supports stems from personal experience. Growing up, I felt high levels of stress and anxiousness, especially when I was in the classroom. Despite these feelings being so visually apparent, my family, teachers, and schools did nothing to help. This is why I fight for kids in the District […]
More »February 22, 2022
Growing up, were you the kind of person who was first to raise your hand to present to the class, or who liked to get in debates and voice your opinion? Not me. I was the kid who always had to be taken aside by the teacher and reminded that class participation was a component […]
More »February 22, 2022
From a Public School Teacher to a Budding Policy Buff and the Road that’s Paved with PAVE. The classroom is where my heart is but my adventure cup was bottomlessly empty so I moved from America to the Middle East. After about a year, I landed myself right back in America but I still had […]
More »February 22, 2022
As quiet as it’s kept, I hate public speaking. Well, it is not really kept quiet, I tell people all the time. Some people are blessed with the gift of gab but not me. I’ve been an education advocate for about 20 years and if I had my way, I would always lead from behind. […]
More »January 21, 2022
NOTE: This blog is translated in both Spanish and English. Scroll down to read the blog in English. Tengo tres hijos con personalidades, aspiraciones y mentalidades muy diferentes. Además de estas diferencias, mis hijos también tienen necesidades muy específicas para apoyar su educación. Creo firmemente que la educación puede impartirse más allá del horario escolar. […]
More »December 14, 2021
As parents, we are responsible for raising the next generation of citizens. To do this, we take on the role as caregivers. We provide our children with a safe environment. We make sure they are nourished and healthy. And we do not hesitate to protect our children from harm. Through all this provision, we are […]
More »October 27, 2021
I loved my neighborhood growing up. Walking around, it felt like a block party was happening on every corner. Everyone knew each other and we were always coming together. The neighborhoods don’t feel like this now. As a native Washingtonian, I’ve seen my city change in more ways than one, but it’s the loss of […]
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