“Mila, If you don’t advocate for yourself and your people, you’ll never know what’s possible.”
I’ve repeated these words to my daughter countless times over the years, especially when she approaches me apologetically with a request. Each time she timidly asks for something — whether it’s permission for an activity or help with a project — I give her this same response. Why should she feel that her wants, desires, or needs are an imposition?
Let me be clear: she doesn’t get everything she wants (I think). That’s not the point. What matters is that I don’t want her to feel nervous about asking. Right now, she’s dealing with her mom and me — two people genetically predisposed to want to give her everything. But someday, she’ll face a world that isn’t automatically in her corner. Someday, she’ll need to work hard to advocate for herself. Teaching her this skill might be one of the most important lessons I can pass on.
I witnessed the transformative power of persistent advocacy during my first few months at Beth El. While walking through our preschool’s Infant-Toddler wing, I was approached by two teachers with a seemingly simple question: when would we be fixing up the infant-toddler playground? Their tone suggested they’d asked this question many times before, perhaps expecting yet another dismissal. But this time, they found someone who truly listened.
What I heard in their voices wasn’t just another routine request — it was a testament to their unwavering dedication to their students. These professional educators weren’t asking for a personal favor; they were advocating for a fundamental need. They helped me understand that upgrading the playground wasn’t just about cosmetic improvements — it was about reimagining how we engage with our youngest learners. Their persistence wasn’t born of selfishness; it was quite the opposite. Their advocacy stemmed from a deep commitment to their students’ development and well-being.
So they asked — or rather, they advocated. Not just for the families currently in our school, but for every child who would one day join our wonderful community. And I said yes. Yes, this was something that needed to be done. But it would take a minute to get done.
Turns out, the journey from that initial conversation to completion took almost three years, and even with a three year wait it was, is, a big success.
And here’s an important truth: this success story isn’t mine to claim.
- It began with our teachers’ unwavering advocacy and my willingness to listen.
- Then our development director stepped in, because transformative changes like this require significant resources, and our development director is just about the best out there at finding people who want to put good money towards great projects.
- And so, she found wonderful donors who recognized the playground’s vital importance to Beth El’s future.
- Finally, our director and assistant director of the school ensured we partnered with the best company to bring this vision to life.
And thus, the Berman-Weinstein Preschool Playground was a reality!