Let's go to school in the museum!

January 1, 2024 Marisa Macy

Professor Alessandra Landini from University of Modena-Reggio Emilia helps us discover meaningful connections when a public space like a museum collaborates with their neighborhood school. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Landini and her school community relocated to the town public Museum’s Palace, in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Musei Civici became their school during the pandemic.

Her community partnership sustained the education program. Everything like food and resources followed her and children. The pandemic is over, but partnership between museum and school remains. In the tradition of the atelier, artistic and cultural expression in childhood is enhanced when professionals have resources. Entities outside of Reggio Emilia schools support early childhood education in this region of Italy. Many community-based programs exist in Emilia-Romagna that have meaningful contributions for professionals working with young children.

It is nearly impossible to separate education from the community context in Reggio Emilia when wondering if you can bottle up this magic. When you come to Reggio Emilia it is possible to wonder how you can take some of this magic home with you. If you want to hear more about this community-based partnership between the Reggio Emilia school and the municipal museum, head over to the BUTTERCUP podcast (click on bold) and listen to Dr. Landini tell the amazing story.

Follow me to the Musei Civici in Reggio Emilia, Italia.

Circle time and then small group activities were done here the day we visited the Musei Civici in Reggio Emilia, Italia.

Light tables and ateliers. Musei Civici in Reggio Emilia, Italia.

Studies in sealife. Musei Civici in Reggio Emilia, Italia.

One child chose to draw this giraffe and then write about it in their journal. Musei Civici in Reggio Emilia, Italia.

Preschooler drew this giraffe in notebook. Musei Civici in Reggio Emilia, Italia.

Source: Landini, A. & Macy, M. (September, 2023). Case Study of Social Inclusion and Community-based Partnership in Reggio Emilia, Italia. Sixteenth International Conference on the Inclusive Museum, “Museum Transformations: Pathways to Community Engagement,” Vancouver, Canada.

The Day I Went to Harvard

December 24, 2023 Marisa Macy

“Learn to Change the World,” were the words on flags that hung from lamp posts on tree lined streets in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These inspirational words struck a nerve for me the day I went to Harvard. Economic prosperity for a community hinges on early childhood care for families. The reason I went to Harvard is to learn more about how children, families, and neighborhoods can prosper in rural areas.

Taking a selfie with my Harvard CEEL profs. Finally got to meet these incredible people in person after taking their classes for 2 years online trough Harvard Graduate School of Education. Left to right: me, Dr. Danila Crespin Zidovsky, and Dr. Emily Wiklund Hayhurst from Harvard and Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative.

I learned about ‘Strengthening State and City Early Education Systems and Policy for Today & Tomorrow’ from emails I received from Zaentz Early Education Initiative at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

During the COVID-19 pandemic I was part of a certificate program called, Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL). It took me about 2 years and 15 classes to earn the CEEL. I learned tons of cool things in this program about policy work, and how to advocate and serve children and their families.

I developed a proposal to create a cross sector team who could explore workforce development that could benefit children and families in rural areas. Education, business, and health coming together to address the needs of our children in rural neighborhoods. The title: Recruitment & Retention of Professionals for Rural Communities in Education, Business, and Health Sectors Serving Young Children and their Families.

The proposal I wrote was accepted and our team attended the ‘Strengthening State and City Early Education Systems and Policy for Today & Tomorrow’ hosted by Zaentz Early Education Initiative at Harvard Graduate School of Education. They accepted 12 proposals. Mine was one of them. Thank you, Zaentz Foundation and team!

My team consisted of: Carime Ruvalcaba (early childhood educator, Cadre member of Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and business owner of Karime Childcare LLC serving children and families whose home language is Spanish), Cathy Lang (executive director of the Nebraska Business Development Center), Dawn Mollenkopf (professor who studies personnel preparation at University of Nebraska Kearney), Nikki Carritt (Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Workforce Education Relations & Director of Rural Health Initiatives at University of Nebraska Medical Center; Assistant Director of Community Outreach & Engagement of Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center; Nikki leads rural health initiative for University of Nebraska) and I.

Our team had homework assignments and two meetings before we went to Boston. Harvard executive ed programs use case method instruction. We read an in-depth case study about New York’s PreK for All program.

L. to R.: Cathy Lang, Nikki Carritt, me, and Carime Ruvalcaba

My team is trying to develop ways that could help us recruit and retain professionals who can serve children who are multi-language learners and their families in education, rural healthcare, and business to serve our rural communities in Nebraska. Our goal is to expand access and enhance the capacity of higher education to develop a strategic plan for collaboration and forming a rural hub network in Nebraska.

Gutman Library at Harvard is where we worked together with other teams. L. to R.: Cathy Lang, Nikki Carritt, me, and Carime Ruvalcaba

Our interdisciplinary team is focusing on two areas: (a) discussing policy implications for recruitment and retention of workforce to support regional rural hub model, and (b) creating an action plan to build coordination and expand access to resources for child care, health care, business, and early learning programs in rural areas.

Nikki Carritt (University of Nebraska Medical Center), Charlotte Petty (Harvard Graduate School of Education), and Robin Kane (Harvard Graduate School of Education).

Spectacular teams from Iowa, Colorado, California, Texas, Connecticut, Tennessee, Georgia, Vermont, and Pennsylvania. And of course our team from Nebraska. We did the lightening round with the team from Iowa. So interesting to hear about what the other teams are working on to help children and families.

Carime and me walking in the snow in Cambridge.

Be ready! You never know who you’ll run into. Nikki and I running into the magnificent Dr.Jack Shonkoff (Harvard professor of pediatrics) at our hotel, The Commander, in Cambridge. He was there for a meeting the day we checked in.

“Our work today is like an intricately woven quilt,” ~Dr. Danila Crespin Zidovsky, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

The day I went to Harvard to explore early childhood education will go in my “smile file” forever. It was wonderful being there with an amazing team to learn from passionate people about how to better serve children and their families. Epic conversations can propel ideas and potential solutions for our rural communities struggling with workforce shortages. Conversations to be continued.

What does Hollywood have to do with Early Childhood Educators and Harvard?
Tune in to episode of BUTTERCUP podcast (click bold link) to hear interview with Harvard profs who provide professional development and resources to educators thanks to a gift from a Hollywood film producer who was a philanthropist, record producer, and won Academy Award 3x. Dr. Danila Crespin Zidovsky and Ms. Emily Wiklund Hayhurst share the Zaentz Early Childhood Initiative and resources for professionals.

Macy, M., Carritt, N., Lang, C., Ruvalcaba, C., & Mollenkop, D. (December, 2023). Recruitment & Retention of Professionals for Rural Communities in Education, Business, and Health Sectors Serving Young Children and their Families. “Strengthening State and City Early Education Systems and Policy for Today and Tomorrow” of Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Good Things with Interconnectivity

March 4, 2023 Marisa Macy

Dr. Sam Meisels said, “Interconnectivity is key to success.” It was his last Directors’ Meeting at Buffett Early Childhood Institute before retiring when I heard him say these elegant and powerful words. Interconnectivity! My new favorite word.

To me, his words mean how important we all are to each other. Community collaborations are the vital interconnectivity we need as we strengthen goodness in our neighborhoods. People in America, Italy, Portugal, Taiwan, Turkey, Mexico, China, Ireland, Canada, Iran, Denmark, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Hungary, and UK have shared with me notes and kind words during my transition to becoming a Community Chair with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute of the University of Nebraska representing my campus at the University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK).

Thank you to UNK and Buffett Early Childhood Institute of the University of Nebraska! Buffett Institute recently had a birthday. Celebrating 10 years! The Ten Year Report is just released showing the beautiful story of the people and places that are connected to the Buffett Institute. Interconnectivity!

Baby book. That is what I think of as a comparison for the ten year report. A baby book shows pictures of developmental milestones the child and family experience. The Buffett Institute started from a newborn and is now ten years old. Happy Birthday! The story told in this book are sublime descriptions showing growth.

Here is a link to the Buffett Institute Ten Year Report:

https://buffettinstitute.nebraska.edu/-/media/beci/docs/10-year-report-pdf-spreads-final.pdf

They learned about the work we are doing in Nebraska and I’m forever grateful to my family for being with me in Kearney for this occasion when we celebrated my transition to serving as the Buffett Institute/UNK Community Chair. My sweet father bought a bespoke new suit and shoes to come to Kearney. He looked handsome and I am so proud of him! My Mom also brought her new clothes for Kearney, and they gifted me three new dresses to choose from for my big day when people came for the celebration from Nebraska and beyond. I tried on all three dresses and modeled them for her. My Mom told me to wear the blue dress. When Mama tells you to do something, you must do it (even when you’re in your 50s).

Marisa Galliano Macy, Elisabetta “Tina” Vacca Galliano, and Ronald Galliano

My parents taught me to work hard for a goal. A hot meal in morning is awesome when you jump out of bed before school. When we were growing up, my brothers (Rico and Mario) and I smelled food, but some days the smell of perm solution wafted up the stairs to our bedrooms as she was already doing someone’s hair in the beauty shop in our home before we woke up. Working parents juggle and I love my parents for modeling a strong work ethic for me. Without my parents, husband, daughter, family and friends I wouldn’t be able to do what makes me sparkle.

When we sign off on the phone my parents always say, “Make it a good one.” And of course ti amo (I love you).

Wishing you a good one today and everyday so you can be your best self for your family, friends and neighbors near and far. Dandelion wishes came true for me in 2022. One of them was with the terrific teams at Buffett Early Childhood Institute and UNK. Can’t wait to see what 2023 brings! Let good things grow with interconnectivity.