The Acorn in the Eyeglass Case in Tallahassee, FL

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Today, I had the pleasure of working with the Capital Area Community Action Agency team right here in my own backyard of Tallahassee, Florida.

It was invigorating to watch the team grasp the concepts of the Top-Notch Village™ framework.

It always does my heart well to see the lightbulb moments and the a-ha moments on people’s faces as the pieces begin to connect.

Then, at the end of our time together, I received a the most beautiful Godwink.

The Early Childhood Development Manager came up to me and said,

“I want to show you something.”

She opened her eyeglass case.

Inside were her glasses, her lipstick, and an acorn.

She told me that she had kept that acorn since the first time she heard me speak.

Then she told me about her granddaughter.

One day, her granddaughter found the acorn in the eyeglass case and asked what it was.

She told her the story of a little girl named El who was once a little acorn that rolled into a Head Start classroom, grew into a mighty, mighty oak tree, and became Dr. El.

She talked with her granddaughter about the seedling, the sapling, and how she, too, is an acorn who will one day grow into a mighty, mighty oak tree.

One day, while they were walking together, they saw a lot acorns on the ground.

And her granddaughter excitedly said, “Look at all the acorns!”

She told her granddaughter to pick up the prettiest one.

When her granddaughter chose one, she told her,

“That’s you.”

That acorn now sits in her granddaughter’s window as a reminder that she is a beautiful acorn who will one day grow into a mighty, mighty oak tree and give back to the community that is pouring into her now.

She also told me that when they are sitting in church, her granddaughter sometimes asks,

“Can I see your eyeglass case?”

She does not want the glasses.

She does not want the lipstick.

She wants to see the acorn.

Then she looked at me and said,

“You should write a children’s book.”

I could not stop the tears.

She took my story and used it to help her granddaughter see possibilities and identify the greatness that lives within her.

That is all I have ever wanted.

Use me.

Let my story be useful.

Let what I have lived become language that helps a child understand who they are and who they can become.

I work with adults.

But make no mistake about who I work for.

I work for children.

Every child deserves the opportunity to grow into a mighty, mighty oak tree.

And my purpose is to help create Top-Notch Villages, that will do the work to ensure that children have the conditions needed to GROW MIGHTY. ❤️🌰🌱🌳☀️ #TheAcornMovement #TopNotchVillages #UseMeLord

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Dr. El Brown is an early childhood keynote speaker, trainer, and engagement strategist who partners with Head Start, early childhood programs, and children and family service organizations to strengthen family engagement, support professional development, and build Top-Notch Villages™ where children and families thrive. ❤️🌰🌱🌳☀️

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