Reflections & Stories

THE VILLAGE BLOG

She Saw It Before I Did

There are people who enter your life and completely change its trajectory. Rashanda Jenkins is one of those people for me. Rashanda is responsible for the career that feeds my soul today. In 2016, I was invited to serve on the board of a community action agency. Because I always want to make myself useful, I began looking for the place where I could contribute most meaningfully. That search led me to the Head Start Policy Council meetings, where I served as the board represen

When the Mission Becomes a Song in Muskogee, OK

A Top-Notch Village™ is, by definition, a mission-aligned village. When I work with agencies, one of the things we often discuss is how we can become more mission-aligned and operate under one shared mission to support healthy outcomes for children and families. I suggest that a mission should be simple enough to be understood by children, families, and new team members, and it should answer the question: Why do we exist? Every decision should be made with that mission in min

The Universal Language of the Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I’m sitting in the airport reflecting on my trip to Rio de Janeiro, and without question, the most impactful and rewarding part of my stay was visiting the favela. A favela is a community built along the mountainside. To reach the top, we took a cable car high above the homes and the community below. Inside the cable car, I met a little girl who appeared to be about three years old. We did not speak the same language, but she recognized warmth and love. She showed me the boo

ABOUT THE VILLAGE BLOG

The Village Blog is a living record of engagement strategy in action.

Here, I share field stories, practical strategies, and original frameworks from my work with Head Start programs, school districts, community action agencies, and child- and family-service organizations across the country.

Each post explores how adults can strengthen relationships, become mission-aligned, and show up well for children and families. I work with adults and work for children—because every child deserves to be loved and cared for well.

Raising Superman

Raising Superman is co-authored by Dr. El and her son, Ricky II. Together, they weave their voices into one story that highlights the three characters of a Top-Notch Village: the child, the family, and the village members.

The book gives families and village members tips and strategies drawn directly from Dr. El’s Village Engagement Matrix™—a framework designed to help both work together so that children have every opportunity to maximize their personal potential.

At its core, Raising Superman shows what becomes possible when children grow up surrounded by belief in themselves, a positive identity, and a village committed to turning dreams into reality.