My Background

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and some of my social locations as a means of letting you know who I am and where I am coming from. This course is certainly not a perfect fit for everyone, but my goal is to make it as accessible as possible to all. Part of that includes being transparent about who I am.

For some context, this is the Identity Wheel that I use to outline social locations, provided by the Right Use of Power Institute. Naming my identities help you understand some of my perspective. Despite my best efforts, there are many identities and perspectives that will not be represented in this course. I want to be transparent about this up front.

Some of my identities:

• I am a middle class, white, woman.
• I grew up in a low socioeconomic status and have worked since I was in my early teens.
• I am employed and have worked almost exclusively for non-profits since 2009.
• I am cisgender and relatively young.
• I am a homeowner with numerous roommates in Colorado.
• I was born and raised in the United States but have had the opportunity to travel the world, including long stays in different cultures.
• I am able bodied.
• I live with vertigo.
• I am neuro-divergent, existing on the autism spectrum and living with Sensory Processing Disorder.
• I am a single mom with two children.
• I have liberal belief systems.
• I am reasonably well educated, including having a Bachelor’s Degree.

So why me?

You might be asking yourself why you want to listen to what I have to say and what makes me a professional. I have my B.A. in Early Childhood Education through Naropa University and have been working with young children since 2005. In Colorado I have a level 6 Early Childhood Profession Credential 3.0. This means that I not only have education and experience but that I have maintained ongoing education. I am a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, and lactation counselor through International Doula Institute, maintained by supporting a minimum number of births each year. In addition, I partner with Elephant Circle to provide Doula training to marginalized women in their first language. I am a Certified Early Childhood Coach. Finally, I have extensive training in social skills, motivational interviewing, and I am a Right Use of Power teacher.

Too long didn’t read: I have dedicated the majority of my life to working with and supporting children and families. To say it is my passion would be a gross understatement.