Today, I’m chatting with Kristy DeGraaf, a family child care provider, trainer and childcare coach.  Kristy started her career in social work and moved to Family Childcare 15 years ago after finding it hard to locate good care for her own children. We are talking about advocacy in Early Childhood Education and how you can get involved! Kristy sheds light on the importance of this despite the overwhelming challenges in the field. Some key takeaways: Understanding Advocacy:Kristen and Kristy to explore the meaning of advocacy in early childhood education. They debunk common misconceptions, highlighting the importance of actively participating in shaping policies and regulations. Personal Journey in Advocacy:Kristy shares her journey, starting as a family child care provider, feeling overwhelmed by rules and regulations, to realizing the need for active involvement. She describes an eye-opening experience addressing legislative bodies to advocate for quality childcare programs. Challenges in Advocacy:Kristy emphasizes the challenges of advocating effectively, including the need to understand different perspectives, the importance of diplomatic communication, and navigating legislative processes. Community Engagement and Impact:Reflecting on successful initiatives in Utah, Kristy discusses how community efforts led to defeating unfavorable bills and eventually influencing new legislation that positively impacted early childhood programs. Practical Advocacy:Beyond large-scale efforts, Kristy highlights how advocacy can be practiced on a smaller scale. From social media posts to engaging in conversations, she underscores the power of collective action, even through seemingly small contributions. If you have ever wondered how to be an advocate for early childhood, or where to start, this episode is for you! Kristen and Kristy discuss how to engage with established advocacy groups and emphasize that individual contributions, no matter how small, can lead to significant changes in early childhood education policies.   Find Kristen here: @kristen.rb.peterson or at KristenRBPeterson.com Find Kristy here: on IG @kristy.degraaf or on Facebook or at kristydegraaf.com