COLUMBUS, OH – Today, Groundwork Ohio announced the incoming 2022 cohort of its third annual Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship program. The Fellowship is designed to provide early childhood education and health professionals from across the state with the opportunity to further develop their leadership skills, engage with thought-leaders and policymakers to advance quality early learning and health, and take steps to create state-, local-, and community-level change for young children in Ohio.
“We are thrilled to welcome this talented and passionate group of early childhood professionals to our growing network of Early Childhood Leadership Fellows,” said Shannon Jones, President and CEO of Groundwork Ohio. “Children only get one chance at childhood, which is why we need leaders who will be a strong voice for Ohio’s youngest children and their families. We look forward to working with the 2022 Fellowship cohort to help them build up their leadership and advocacy skills to be a champion for infants, toddlers, and families across our state.”
The Fellowship will utilize a unique and engaging curriculum consisting of keynote speakers, online learning experiences, discussions with policymakers, networking opportunities, technical assistance, and small group projects. Upon completion of the program, Fellows will have a better understanding on how to be a successful advocate for themselves, infants and toddlers, families, and their community.
The 2022 cohort comprises of 33 professionals spanning a wide variety of home-based and center-based child care providers; home visitors; child development specialists; child welfare professionals; early childhood mental health providers; preschool educators; maternal, infant, and early childhood health professionals; higher education professionals; and more.
Groundwork Ohio is excited to share the following professionals have been accepted into the 2022 cohort:
Sandra Adams, Miami Valley Hospital/Help Me Grow Brighter Futures
Andrea Barga, Clinton County Community Action - Clinton County Head Start
Lauren Elaine Brown, World of Wonders Child Care and Learning Center
Alesia Brown, Family Child Care Home Provider
Barbara Burden, Family Child Care Home Provider
Melissa Canada, Family Child Care Home Provider
Ellen Chavez, Erie County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Robert Cummings, Cincinnati - Hamilton County Community Action Agency
Coretta Daniel, Starting Point
Shelly Engram, Ms. Shelly's Place
Angela Ewald, Action for Children
Meredith Florkey, Ohio Naturally LLC
April Frazier, OhioGuidestone
Isabella Frueh, Learning Grove
Tarshalla Hanks, Sunshine House
Angel Heath, Children's Discovery Center
Shawn Holden, Step Forward
Jalissa Hutchins, Family Child Care Home Provider
Kristen Junga, Children's Resource Center
Sara Knapp, Kent State University Child Development Center
Lori Kolofer-Burk, Starting Point
Misty Luther, Pike County Early Childhood Program
Carol Lyles, YWCA of Greater Cleveland Early Learning Center
Xiara Quinn, Learning Grove - Future Environments, Inc.
Candace Rhoill, Little Promises Preschool @ Cincinnati Urban Promise
Lauren Rinner, The Goddard School of Anderson Township
Elizabeth Rumschlag, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership
Melanie Senter, South Side Early Learning
JD Smith, Horizon Education Centers
Erin Tebben, The Ohio State University
Kelsey Thompson, Fun Daycare
Colleen Tullis, Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Kaleena Wiseman, YWCA of Columbus
More information about the program can be found at www.GroundworkOhio.org/Fellowship.
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Groundwork Ohio is a committed, nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization formed in 2004 that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age five, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families, and communities. Learn more about Groundwork Ohio at groundworkohio.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.