The Day the Acorn Lady Received an Acorn in Birmingham, AL
Updated: Aug 22
This morning, I had the privilege of sharing space with the good people of Childcare Resources at their Sky’s the Limit Conference in beautiful Birmingham, Alabama.
Childcare Resources is on a mission to ensure every child in Alabama gets the best possible start in life.
They do the important work of supporting children and families because they understand what decades of research have shown us: quality early learning and care programs are a smart investment that can change the trajectory of children, families, and communities for generations.
As a Head Start alumna, I am living proof of that. 🙏🏾❤️
The absolute highlight of my day, however, was meeting my new friend, Valerie.
As I was preparing to engage the conference participants, Valerie came over to introduce herself and let me know how excited she was to meet me.
At first, I was flattered.
Then she shared something that took my breath away.
She told me she had become familiar with my work and the message of the acorn.
She also told me that as she travels from center to center working with educators and service providers, she carries acorns with her and shares that same message with the people she serves.
Then she reached into her bag and gave me one of the acorns she carries.
For nearly a decade, I have traveled from city to city with a suitcase full of acorns.
In fact, I have hundreds of them in my carry-on right now.
I have placed acorns into the hands of thousands of educators, leaders, and families across the country. People affectionately call me “The Acorn Lady.”
Never—not once—had anyone given me an acorn.
Until today.
I embraced Valerie.
Standing before me was someone who had heard the message, understood the assignment, and was carrying The Acorn Movement.
“A movement cannot be sustained by one person,” I told her.
A few minutes later, I walked onto the stage to deliver my keynote.
As I always do, I told the audience that I had brought them a gift.
I asked everyone to hold up the acorn they had received when they walked into the room.
Then I held up the acorn in my hand.
I told them that the acorn I was holding had been given to me by my new friend, Valerie.
Later, as I sat in the airport waiting for my flight, I finally had an opportunity to take a closer look at the little bag Valerie had given me.
She had written me a personal note on the back.
Then I looked inside.
There were acorns.❤️
Thank you, My New Friend, Valerie, for understanding the assignment. 🙏🏾❤️🌰🌳 #TheAcornMovement #TopNotchVillages
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. ❤️🌰🌱🌳☀️
Interested in bringing Dr. El Brown to your organization or conference? Explore speaking and training experiences or submit a booking inquiry.
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