Registration is open for the second session of the Exceptional Bilingual Leadership Program, which starts Jan. 23.
The pilot program was completed in mid-December. The fellowship, created by Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez, Obioma Martin and Aliya Johnson-Roberts, is accepting applications for its second cohort.
The 12-week program is designed for the personal growth of individuals involved in early childhood education and care. It provides new tools, strategizing techniques, opportunities for sharing and building bonds with like-minded individuals who have chosen to invest in their personal and professional development.
Maria Negron, a family advocate for Today’s Child Learning Center, was a participant in the pilot program. She said, “When I first began this training, I thought it was a regular class, but I got so much more out of it … the sisterhood, the strong women. It blows me away to know I can count on any one of these women — Damaris, Obioma, Aliya. Throughout this whole training, I told my boss every class is amazing. I left with so much more than when I started.”
Johnson-Roberts is executive director and owner of Bustleton Learning Center and Pratt Street Learning Center, and a business consultant pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. She, Martin and Johnson-Roberts are graduates of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Entrepreneurship Program.
Johnson-Roberts said, “Among the three of us, we have seen most of the childcare education programs that are offered and there is nothing like this out there — one that inspires other women, working together in a cohort, to share a vision for leadership.”
The next Exceptional Bilingual Leadership Program will begin Jan. 23. To learn more and enroll in the next session, visit https://latinoseducandojuntos.org/eblf/ or email omaxinstitute@gmail.com. ••
