Storytelling at the United Workers Staying on Track Retreat (Baltimore)

My work is at the intersection of human rights and early education. I've fought for worker and other economic human rights, quality child care, educational access for low-income children and for economic justice in some of North America's poorest communities.

Centre for Learning and Democracy - Toronto, Baltimore & Seattle
2001-Current

The Centre for Learning and Democracy demands universal and loving care for all children and creates human rights educational materials and programs for early care providers and human rights organizers.

• I conducted workshops for early educators and care providers, including at conferences held by the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children, Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children and the Washington READ Conference (state chapter of the International Reading Association)
• I worked closely with the United Workers, an organization of low-wage workers in Baltimore, MD, and other human rights organizations, providing media training, development of popular education materials and leadership development training
• I developed and taught courses on early literacy development, linguistics of early reading foundations and child-centred and developmentally appropriate reading instruction with Jeanne Smith and Laurie Spitzer, which were offered for continuing education credit by Seattle Pacific University

Here I am preparing for the Living Wages Hunger Strike announcement on Aug. 15, 2007 with hunger strike participants and allies from Casa de Maryland and Progressive Maryland.

More information:

• Centre for Learning and Democracy
• Cultural Workers Cooperative
• Storytelling Activism
• Reader's Way
• Worthy Wage Day
• United Workers
• Friends and Residents

ImagineTree Consulting - Toronto, Baltimore & Seattle
1999-Current

ImagineTree provides production and messaging services to educational television productions and other worthwhile projects.

Highlights:

• I provided education research services to NewStory Ventures for documentary on education system in the United States, produced by Emmy-nominated producer of Hip Hop Harry (Discovery Channel)
• I provided production coordination services to Biz Kid$ Productions, assisting with production of Biz Kid$ (to air on PBS), an educational television show by the producers of Disney's Bill Nye the Science Guy

The Biz Kid$ set. Biz Kid$ airs on PBS throuhgout the United States and teaches young people about the world of business and finance.

More information:

• ImagineTree
• NewStory Ventures
• Biz Kid$ Productions
• IWT - The Real News
• 1-800-Save-a-Pet.com
• Fair Deal for Our City Coalition
• Toronto & York Region Labour Council

Puget Sound Learning - Silverdale, WA
1996-2001

Puget Sound Learning was a retail and educational services centre that included toys, educational resources, a children's book store, preschool and tutoring centre. The centre was composed of Children's Garden (retail store), The Garden School (preschool) and Puget Sound Learning (tutoring services).

My work in education started as part owner of Children's Garden, a toy and children's book store. My mom and step father started the store in 1993 and I bought into the business and became its managing partner in 1996. We ran Children's Garden in a very mission-focused way. Children's Garden closed in 2001.

Jeanne, Jason and I read a book together at Puget Sound Learning.

Our store was as much a "community centre" as it was a toy and book store, offering after school science classes, weeklong leadership camps and other educational programs for the town's families. I personally hosted birthday parties for over 10,000 children at the store. I also conducted science assemblies and performed as a story teller at area schools and community festivals.

Children's Garden grew to become Puget Sound Learning, an early childhood and tutoring centre. The centre's preschool opened in 1998. I assumed the role of preschool teacher when the first teacher had to leave unexpectedly. I quickly discovered that teaching preschool was more my passion than was running the business. I handed off day-to-day management and fully embraced my new role as preschool teacher. When Children's Garden and Puget Sound Learning closed, the preschool was spun-off into a parent-owned co-operative, where I continued to teach.

Highlights:

• I taught preschool for ages 2-6 in the centre's preschool (Children's Garden) as lead teacher (3 years)
• I directed the centre's tutoring program, teaching reading and writing to high school students experiencing serious challenges at school (3 years)

Other Experience

• Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, Treasurer (2004-2005)
• Pike Market Child Care & Preschool, Executive Director (2004)
• Asian American Lead, Teacher (2003)
• Pacific Science Centre, Welcome Coordinator & Science Teacher (2000-2003)
• America Reads / University of Washington, ESL Tutor (2001-2002)