Chat Transcripts

Topic

Chat Session 2

Date

2025-10-27

Group ID

0

Course ID

301536

User List

Butler-Robinson, LafayetteDeVaughn, HeatherFerrusca, LadyGantt, TriciaHernandez Alcoser, CinthiaSnabb, JackieStaudt, SaraVilla, Johanna{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}
User Timestamp Message
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}06:56:28 pmHello Everyone! I hope your week is going well and you are observing community relationships as you work in your leadership role!!
Snabb, Jackie06:56:51 pmHello!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}06:57:11 pmHi Jackie!
Ferrusca, Lady06:57:44 pmhello
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}06:58:05 pmHi Lady!
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette06:58:25 pmGood evening. I will try to keep up. Home sick with bronchitis.
Snabb, Jackie06:59:08 pmI understand Lafayette, feel better!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}06:59:16 pmOh, Layayette - we appeciate your making the effort to be here! Hope you feel better soon!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}06:59:45 pmLooks like fall is settling in for MN - cooler days ahead!
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette06:59:44 pmthank you to everyone
DeVaughn, Heather06:59:46 pmHello
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia06:59:46 pmHello Everyone!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:00:03 pmHi Heather and Cinthia!
Snabb, Jackie07:00:04 pmHFMD has taken over our center the last two weeks
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:01:17 pmI'm glad to see all of you! Shall we get underway? *
Villa, Johanna07:01:19 pm*
DeVaughn, Heather07:01:25 pm*
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:01:35 pmsorry Jackie, what is HFMD
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:01:38 pm*
Snabb, Jackie07:01:47 pm*
Snabb, Jackie07:02:11 pmHand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Staudt, Sara07:02:24 pm*
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:02:26 pmI appreciated your many impactful and meaningful posts this week! Excellent!
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:02:34 pm*
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:03:08 pmLet's each share something we observed this week as we thought about our community connections and engagement! *
Ferrusca, Lady07:03:35 pm *
Gantt, Tricia07:03:45 pmHi everyone! Sorry I was having trouble logging in!
Staudt, Sara07:04:09 pmI noticed how underutilized some partnerships are. There are so many partnerships that could be strengthened and deepened within the work we do.
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:04:14 pmMy connections were teaming up with another child care center to figure out ways we can collab on projects and outings
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:04:22 pmGreat point Sara!
Gantt, Tricia07:04:35 pmWe had a successful trunk or treat and it was fun to see the community come together with many faces we didn't know! Connections were made for sure!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:04:45 pmAh, partnering with other ECE!
DeVaughn, Heather07:04:48 pmI attended a trunk or treat at the church that is walking distance from my house and they had an amazing turn out! Its a very family oriented church and I would like to find ways to engage with them as well as participate in next years trunk or treat
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:05:11 pmTrunk and treats before Halloween?
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:05:12 pmlocal libraries s are in connecting families to educational resources. Many of them host story times and cultural events that naturally bring the community together.
Gantt, Tricia07:05:29 pmYes! They are typically done all over the week leading up to halloween!
Villa, Johanna07:05:35 pmDuring our staff meeting, teachers self initiated a conversation around wanting to host a food drive in response to the cut back to snap benefits. Teachers brainstormed different ways we could gather donations, email alumni lists, posting flyers, asking local business. Sometimes community engagement can be "home grown" and to meet the needs of our community in real time
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:05:41 pmthe role of libraries seems to be growing and that is great for communities!
Snabb, Jackie07:05:47 pmI observed that we are throwing tons of food away each week and offered it to a mother this morning working two jobs with 3 boys and she was so thankful
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:06:06 pmThat's great collaboration Johanna!
DeVaughn, Heather07:06:07 pmAww bless you Jackie
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:06:25 pmWonderful Jackie!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:06:57 pmSo many unique ways you added to your connections this week!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:07:23 pmCan I tell you about my $50,000 phone call theory? *
Villa, Johanna07:07:30 pm*
Gantt, Tricia07:07:34 pmYes!! *
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:07:39 pm8
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:07:39 pm*
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:08:04 pmsorry *
Snabb, Jackie07:08:07 pmWe are now bringing back our food pantry with the government shutdown, cabinets up, just gotta get the items coming
Snabb, Jackie07:08:12 pm*
DeVaughn, Heather07:08:13 pm*
Staudt, Sara07:08:16 pm*
Ferrusca, Lady07:08:29 pmI am not entirely sure about all the community connections my center currently has, but I believe it would be an excellent idea to establish a partnership with a nearby library. This would allow us to refer families who are looking for new Spanish-language reading materials, especially since my program is a Spanish immersion program. This kind of collaboration would give families more opportunities to access resources that support reading at home and strengthen language development in both languages.
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:09:11 pmIt's a point about how we answer our center's phone. Are we bright, helpful, engaging? The caller may be the next family who would like to enroll with you! Over the time they will spend with you, families easily invest $50,000 with you! Don't want to miss out on that!!
Gantt, Tricia07:09:13 pmJackie - that is amazing!!
Gantt, Tricia07:09:44 pmLove that, Karen. So true. I feel like this could go for our in person tours as well!
Staudt, Sara07:09:59 pmKaren - that is such a great point! I miss answering the phone so much - maybe I need to be better at it!
Snabb, Jackie07:10:03 pmI'm a doer lol
DeVaughn, Heather07:10:29 pmWow, Karen so true....now I want to listen to my voicemail again too just to make sure it sounds bright helpful and engaging
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:10:50 pmWhen I was a director, I really liked answering the phone and the door. Gave me many opportunities to engage in ways that I wondered if anyone else would! Of course as time allows!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:11:03 pmGreat point Heather!
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:11:10 pmI love taking phone calls too Karen.
Snabb, Jackie07:11:27 pmI exude bright and cheerful so I have that part covered.
Ferrusca, Lady07:11:42 pmi am in that role Karen.
Ferrusca, Lady07:12:05 pmI take the phone and i help the director with the tours.
Snabb, Jackie07:12:10 pmanyone ever been told their "extra" lol
Gantt, Tricia07:12:14 pmSometimes I feel like it is hard to not get burnt out of tours - but it is nice to train other staff in that can bring the fresh feel to them!
Gantt, Tricia07:12:28 pmOh yeah, extra label coming my way ALLLLLL the time, LOL
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:12:49 pmLast week we talked about many of our partnering engagements - and thank you for sharing so many possibilities! Here is an add on question. How do you or did you begin some your community and business relationships? People often wonder how to get started!!*
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:13:19 pmme answering the phone to a potential family is everything. But I also learned over the years that is my center is not the right fit, I give names and numbers of our centers that might work for them, That always a great thing because it means I value what they are looking for.
Snabb, Jackie07:13:34 pmTricia, I greet them for the tour and then take them through the rooms but the teachers and other staff talk about their room and routines, it's great for the parents and staff
Staudt, Sara07:13:48 pmI look within - does someone on our team already have a connection to the organization I am trying to connect with? If so, can they help introduce us? If not, I often send an introductory email.
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:14:02 pmTo begin community and business relationships, I usually start with research
Gantt, Tricia07:14:24 pmWe actually made a simple connection with the chiropractor in our strip this week .. we dropped off a flyer weeks ago and in return they came in this week looking for masks for a sick patient of theirs. It was the first step in connection our communities and look forward to advertising for each other now!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:14:30 pmAll very useful ideas! Keep them coming!
Snabb, Jackie07:15:16 pmI built some of them through net working and leadership opportunity offered by our Chamber and the U of M
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:15:20 pmBeing constantly alert to connection options is an important part of our leadership roles!
Ferrusca, Lady07:15:21 pmIn the future, I would like our center to build strong and meaningful connections with organizations in the community that can support our educational goals and values. Since we are a Spanish immersion program, one of my main goals would be to establish partnerships with local libraries that offer books and resources in Spanish. This would allow families to continue promoting literacy and language development at home.
Villa, Johanna07:15:28 pmWe like to look within our current skillset and connections of our membership: where to families and teachers live, where do families work, how do we know? leveraging the relations we have tend to be more successful than sending "cold emails"
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:16:12 pmYes, making a "warm" connection, as we call it, make so much difference!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:16:40 pmParents and staff team members know many people, organizations, businesses in our communities
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:16:43 pmtaking with your parents to partner with their jobs and other family members.
Villa, Johanna07:17:04 pmAs a leader at the program who also lives in the same neighborhood as the program, I am alert that all of my interactions with my neirbhoors can also be seen as a reflection of our center. If they feel positive about me, they may feel positive about our program
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:17:17 pmGreat ideas for building connections to community and business partners!
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:17:57 pmwow Johanna i lovve that.
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:18:05 pmGood point Johanna - when people feel positive about you, they feel positive about the organization. Sometimes we need to remind our staff members of this too! 🙂
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:18:24 pmLet's move on. *
Gantt, Tricia07:18:26 pm*
Villa, Johanna07:18:29 pm*
Ferrusca, Lady07:18:35 pm*
DeVaughn, Heather07:18:40 pm*
Staudt, Sara07:18:41 pm*
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:18:42 pm*
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:18:46 pm*
Snabb, Jackie07:19:21 pmYes Johanna! We are a large center in a neighborhood, we try our best to always keep our neighbors happy
Snabb, Jackie07:19:36 pm*
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:19:54 pmAs you are talking to people, they often ask you "what you do". How can you describe your business in one short sentence? Focus on benefits!
Gantt, Tricia07:20:10 pmLove on children and support their families!
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:20:25 pmOur hours start
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:21:04 pmWe connect children to language and culture, preparing them to thrive in a multilingual world
Staudt, Sara07:21:06 pmRun a childcare program within a non-profit serving single mothers as they pursue their college degrees.
Snabb, Jackie07:21:23 pmI'm in early childhood education and I love my job!
Ferrusca, Lady07:21:36 pmI would describe my center as a place full of rich cultural experiences, where children have the opportunity to develop a second language Spanishin a warm, caring, and supportive environment. Our goal is to provide a space where every child feels safe, loved, and inspired to learn while exploring a new culture and language.
Villa, Johanna07:21:45 pmWe are a non profit cooperatively run center focused on developing students social emotional skills and conflict resolution skills that emphasis the important of community
Gantt, Tricia07:22:41 pmI love all the details in everyone's descriptions - I feel like sometimes I get so lost in the mix of "running" things that I have to step back and remember why I started down this path!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:22:53 pmWe notice we can focus on various aspects of our role or our business. Can we do it in five words focusing on our purpose? This gets harder!! 🙂
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:22:58 pmOur hours start at 2 pm until 10 pm, where our last family leaves around 9 pm where we focus on social and emitional skills
DeVaughn, Heather07:23:33 pmProvide a great education within a safe nurturing Christian environment.
Gantt, Tricia07:23:46 pmLove children + joyfully support families
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:23:50 pmPeople often want to know the "WHY" and just a little about the HOW
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:24:11 pmThese are getting really good!
Snabb, Jackie07:24:13 pmProvide a safe, nurturing place for children to grow
Staudt, Sara07:24:24 pmProvide high quality early childhood education
Villa, Johanna07:24:35 pmCooperative center focused on social emotion development
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:25:20 pmWe think about our mission statements! So often these get long and complicated and try to explain everything! When we can sum it up short and meaningful, it is really valuable!1
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:25:38 pmsafe, dependable, cultural, fun learning
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:26:08 pmAnother point to consider in engaging our communities*
Ferrusca, Lady07:26:23 pm*
Villa, Johanna07:26:25 pm*
Snabb, Jackie07:26:33 pm*
Staudt, Sara07:26:35 pm*
Gantt, Tricia07:26:35 pm*
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:26:51 pm*
DeVaughn, Heather07:26:52 pm*
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:27:03 pm*
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:27:13 pmMany of you have mentioned your neighborhoods or cultural or language focus. How does culture come into play in engaging with your community and local businesses and organizations? *
Gantt, Tricia07:28:00 pmCommunity partnerships open the door to new perspectives and resources that help us better honor the diversity of our families. Partnering with organizations that represent different cultures, languages, and backgrounds allows us to bring authentic voices and traditions into the classroom. It also helps families see themselves reflected and valued in our program, which builds stronger trust and belonging. When we collaborate with the community, inclusion becomes a lived experience rather than just a goal.
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:28:29 pmWell said, Tricia!
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:28:51 pmCulture plays a huge role in engaging with our community and local businesses. By honoring and incorporating Hispanic and Latinx traditions, language, and values, we create authentic connections with families and organizations who share or appreciate that culture.
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:29:55 pmWhat are some of the ways you bring cultural connections in as learning opportunties for the children?
Staudt, Sara07:29:56 pmBy honoring & incorporating the different cultures of our family & community into our center and partnerships, we strengthen the quality of education we provide by ensuring children see their culture in the classroom. When that happens, it strengthens our credibility with families as well.
Ferrusca, Lady07:30:16 pmAt my center, we actively engage with the community by participating in cultural events organized by local parks or the city. These events give us the opportunity to share more about our program and what we offer to families. We also support various community activities, especially those that promote culture, because as a Spanish immersion program, we have a deep connection to cultural diversity and to the importance of fostering respect and understanding among different cultures.
Villa, Johanna07:30:23 pmI believe these can be used to communicate how much of an asset your program is to the greater community. Amplifying you programs "unique features" can act as 1) great advertisement and 2) act as a "winndow or mirror" for those in our community. They may see their family reflected in your program or it may be the tool to expand their knowledge
Snabb, Jackie07:30:46 pmIt provides new perspectives, offers you creativity opportunities. It offers opportunity to show the diversity of our families in the community and center. I love having parents come in and talk about what they do.
Gantt, Tricia07:31:02 pmGuest readers for stories or food/craft activities!
Gantt, Tricia07:31:15 pmA lot of times we can lean into our own families for this!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:31:38 pmYes, parents are such a resource in sharing customs, foods, celebrations, art, music, all kinds of things!
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:31:58 pmWe use traditions, bilingual books, music, and cultural activities to teach language and build cultural awareness.
Snabb, Jackie07:32:09 pmWe have a bee keeper dad, he's come 3yrs in a row, the kids love it
DeVaughn, Heather07:32:16 pmWe cook food from a lot of different cultures!
Staudt, Sara07:32:39 pmGuest readers, field trips, and cooking food and learning about different cultures!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:32:42 pmBy inviting community people in to share their interests, it helps our programs reflect the people around us!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:32:53 pmOh, a bee keeper! Does he bring bees?
Snabb, Jackie07:33:02 pmyes!
Gantt, Tricia07:33:16 pmThat sounds fun!!
DeVaughn, Heather07:33:40 pmAnd we bring in family members...also farmers because I believe that farming is a whole culture in and of itself, and children raised in the city can learn a lot
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:33:44 pmWe had a rescue dog come in once - he was a big hit and helped that children feel comfortable around the park police officers
Snabb, Jackie07:34:04 pmWe have had lots of guests but this dad gets the kids, he has 3, and just brings it home for them
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:34:19 pmOooh, you are opening up all kinds of great ideas for bringing community into our schools! Wonderful connections!
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:35:01 pmmy center families are Oromo and Somali with me being the only African America. I don't speak either language, but my staff and families understand enough English where we can communicate. Sometimes I might need to have someone to interpret, having different types of culture inside the building, it allows others to know that no matter what each child is treated with respect.
Snabb, Jackie07:35:12 pmWe have a puppy visit every 6 to 9 months with a local breeder
Snabb, Jackie07:35:35 pmBest pictures ever to promote your center!
Snabb, Jackie07:36:06 pmLitter of puppies*
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:36:10 pmCommunity engagement isn't just for directors and program leaders! How do we help our educators and other staff members to also be involved in engaging with our communities? *
Villa, Johanna07:36:28 pm*
Snabb, Jackie07:36:41 pmStaff sponsored Trunk or Treat!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:36:47 pmthanks for sharing that point, Layfayette! Very important!
Ferrusca, Lady07:37:06 pm*
Gantt, Tricia07:37:15 pmI think sometimes we need to directly invite them to be a part of things - we will often schedule community things in place of staff meetings and then cut their time accordingly!
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:37:45 pm*
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:37:56 pmYes, Tricia - great strategy! Invitational!
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:38:02 pmsometimes it's hard-to-get community involved because we are a late center. but i do my own type of activities that involves my families
Ferrusca, Lady07:38:14 pmCommunity engagement can be strengthened when all staff members feel empowered and included in the process. We can encourage educators and other staff to get involved by giving them opportunities to participate in community events, represent our program, and share their talents. For example, teachers can help plan activities that connect classroom projects with local organizations or cultural events. We can also invite staff to contribute ideas on how to build partnerships or celebrate cultural traditions within our community. When staff see that their voices and contributions matter, they feel more motivated to be active participants in community engagement.
Villa, Johanna07:38:23 pmTeachers are encouraged to regularly invite parents, grandparents, family friends as "experts" for children to learn from. We also encourage teachers to invite real professionals in if it fits in with their lessons or take field trips to local business. Our preschool classrooms often take trips to our local grocery store when they are leaning about different jobs or about food. We've had a local bakery let us tour their business and eat a donut when kids were learning about cooking
Staudt, Sara07:38:47 pmI lean into teachers' interests a lot! When there are community events, I see what teachers may want to attend, and (if budget allows), compensate them for attending/participating. Additionally, when teachers are community-involved, working with them to build partnerships between our center and the organizations they are part of outside of work too.
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:39:41 pmLove those trips to local businesses - great connections for businesses to feel part of our early education community!
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:39:44 pm participate in community events, and involve staff & children in projects that give back. Every small connection helps build a stronger, more vibrant community.
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:40:31 pmWe had a number of interesting readings this week! Please share one idea from the reading of your choice that you might want to implement! *
Gantt, Tricia07:41:31 pmI’m hoping to become more involved in local advocacy work, especially around early childhood access and inclusion. My goal is to keep growing as a connector; someone who helps families, staff, and community partners work together toward shared outcomes.
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:41:35 pmalso, I allow the kids to tell me what they would like to do or see. This gives them a voice in their care and makes them be more alert in what's around in the community
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:41:55 pmGreat strategies!
Staudt, Sara07:42:46 pmI loved the part about utilizing your board and existing relationships to build out and strengthen community engagement.
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:42:50 pmThis week in our readings, we have the Community Engagement self review. Please complete that and have it with you for our chat next week - we will discuss it!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:43:04 pmthanks Sara!
Gantt, Tricia07:43:10 pmThank you Karen!
Ferrusca, Lady07:43:13 pmI liked this part: The program establishes relationships with and uses the resources of the children’s communities to support the achievement of program goals. Relationships with agencies and institutions in the community can help a program achieve its goals and connect families with resources that support children’s healthy development and learning.
Ferrusca, Lady07:43:34 pmfrom: Community Relationships
Staudt, Sara07:43:40 pmThank you!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:43:51 pmSo what is your one word as you move out to your community this week? One word!! *
DeVaughn, Heather07:44:12 pmEngage
Staudt, Sara07:44:17 pmSupport
Ferrusca, Lady07:44:18 pmbecause it is excatly that i was talking about, the connewconnection ith the another institutions to keep working with pur goals.
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:44:23 pmNice!
Gantt, Tricia07:44:28 pmInclusion
Villa, Johanna07:44:35 pmopportunity (every interaction is an opportunity to build connection and relationships)
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:44:51 pmLove these!
Snabb, Jackie07:45:02 pmI want to advocate more for children and their social/emotional development needs and that means building more relationships with in the community and surrounding area
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:45:18 pmHave a wonderful week everyone - see you on the message board!! Good night!!
DeVaughn, Heather07:45:30 pmGood night!
Gantt, Tricia07:45:43 pmGood night!
Snabb, Jackie07:45:54 pmThank you! Good night!
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:45:55 pmTake care and be joyous!!
Butler-Robinson, Lafayette07:46:35 pmgood night
{Foster-Jorgensen, Karen}07:46:56 pmThanks - have a great week!!
Ferrusca, Lady07:47:28 pmBye!!
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:49:32 pmim sorry my internet was acting up, My word is Connection
Hernandez Alcoser, Cinthia07:49:55 pmGood night everyone!