November 15, 2023 Nominations Open for the 2024 Voice for Children Award Do you know an outstanding early childhood professional who is using their voice to advocate for young children and families? Nominate them for the 2024 Voice for Children Award! Learn More The VOICE for Children Award is the only statewide award in Pennsylvania that recognizes early care and education professionals, who are not paid advocates, that go above and beyond their daily work in the field by being grassroots leaders through advocacy and public policy efforts. Nomination Criteria Nominees must: Display dispositions of a model early childhood advocate, including (but not exclusive to) serving as an expert witness, providing public testimony, appearing in media, serving on a board in a public policy capacity, receiving distinctive honors or awards for previous advocacy work, leading advocacy campaigns or actions, working with leaders and elected officials, and/or recognized as an early childhood leader in their community. Be a current member of PennAEYC to be considered. Nominate an Educator Nominations must be submitted no later than Friday, December 1, 2023. To submit a nomination, complete this nomination form and email it to Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Kimberly Early at kearly@pennaeyc.org. Please add “2024 VOICE Nomination” in your email subject line. Nomination Guidelines Nomination forms will be used to determine the winners of the VOICE for Children Award. Specific documentation (such as links to newspaper articles, titles, awards/honors) should be provided if known to substantiate a nominee’s advocacy efforts. PennAEYC staff will review each nomination based on the information provided. It is important that the nomination form is fully completed and all necessary information is included. There is a 500-word maximum to your response to why you believe your nominee should be selected as a recipient of the 2024 PennAEYC VOICE for Children Award. Including a biography of the nominee is encouraged, but not required. Membership with PennAEYC is not required for the person nominating or endorsing a nominee. To learn more, visit the PennAEYC website.
March 9, 2023 PennAEYC Names Linda D. Grinage as 2023 VOICE for Children Award Honoree The Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) recently named Linda D. Grinage, a Pittsburgh-based child care provider and advocate, as one of two 2023 VOICE for Children Award Honorees. Grinage shares the honor with Dr. Jean Allison, an Associate Professor of Early Childhood at Delaware County Community College. Both women will be recognized at the Annual VOICE For Children Award Celebration on March 31. Learn More Linda Grinage is the founder and Chief Servant Operator (CSO) of of Blessed Assurance Christian Childcare & Early Learning Center, LLC., and a dedicated, Pittsburgh-based child care provider with over 20 years of experience in the industry. In addition to leading Blessed Assurance Christian Childcare, Grinage serves as an active member of the Woodland Hills School District Kindergarten Transition Team and collaborates with other early childhood practitioners to establish kindergarten transition processes and agreements with the district’s schools. Additionally, she serves as a community advocate through ELRC Region 5’s quality partner, Trying Together. In the past, Grinage served as a Keystone STARS Mentor, and remains affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), PennAEYC, Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA), and National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). Grinage earned her bachelor’s degree in Child Development & Family Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and holds both a Pennsylvania State Teaching Certificate in Nursery and Kindergarten, as well as a Pennsylvania Director’s Credential. Her commitment to providing quality care and education to children, combined with her compassionate and nurturing approach to child care, have made her a beloved and respected pillar of the community. Read Grinage’s full biography to learn more. More Information To learn more about Grinage’s recognition as a VOICE for Children Award Honoree or the PennAEYC VOICE awards, visit the PennAEYC website.
