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Head Start Stories

Considering Head Start’s Place in Black History
Mel Gravely
10-February-2022

Considering Head Start’s Place in Black History

Every year, Black History Month is dedicated to recognizing and honoring the contributions that black Americans have made to American history. It was first recognized as a national educational initiative by Gerald Ford in 1976. In researching for this blog, I myself learned some things about the history of Black History Month and how it…

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A Personal Head Start Story: Clarice Jones
Mel Gravely
12-November-2019

A Personal Head Start Story: Clarice Jones

Some of our favorite Head Start stories are the ones that start in Head Start, and end in Head Start. We meet so many individuals who attended Head Start as children, and are now on staff at a Head Start program. It can be a very powerful recruitment tool to be able to tell parents…

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Head Start Stories: Sherri Sharpe
Mel Gravely
05-November-2018

Head Start Stories: Sherri Sharpe

Here we have another installment for our ongoing series “Head Start Stories,” which uncover the power of Head Start to impact people’s lives long after they leave the program. This story comes to us from Sherri Sharpe, who attended Head Start when it was still a fairly new program, started only 5 years before… Dear…

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Head Start Story: Vicki Wilson
Mel Gravely
16-September-2018

Head Start Story: Vicki Wilson

We recently received a new submission for our ongoing series “Share Your Head Start Story.” This story comes from Vicki Wilson, a mother of two in Kentucky whose children attended the Breckinridge-Grayson Program in Leithfield, KY. Her story is very moving and a great testament to the power of Head Start to transform families’ lives.…

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A Personal Head Start Story: Katrina
Mel Gravely
08-May-2018

A Personal Head Start Story: Katrina

We recently had another submission for our ongoing initiative: Share Your Head Start Story. This story submitted by Katrina from Alaska is a familiar one. A child who grew up in Head Start and had a great experience, grows up to become an employee of a Head Start program to share that experience with others.…

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A Personal Head Start Story: Sylvia White
Mel Gravely
26-March-2018

A Personal Head Start Story: Sylvia White

We love to hear stories about how Head Start has changed people’s lives! Below is a story submitted recently on our website about the Head Start program in Lincolnville, South Carolina. If you’re interested in submitting a story for publication on our blog, social media, and e-newsletter, please send it to us! “I attended the…

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Head Start Story: Melody Hedden, from Student to Volunteer to Staff
Mel Gravely
29-January-2018

Head Start Story: Melody Hedden, from Student to Volunteer to Staff

We recently launched a new section on our website called “Share Your Head Start Story.” As part of The Gravely Group’s long-term mission to support Head Start throughout the country, we are gathering some of the inspiring stories of people who attended Head Start since it’s beginning in 1965. These stories will be used as…

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A Touching Note from a Client
Mel Gravely
06-November-2017

A Touching Note from a Client

We recently received a lovely unsolicited note from a client following a training, describing her journey with Head Start. She has given us permission to post it in our blog. Good Afternoon Mr. Gravely, Thanks for all the inspirational words you gave to get the motivation from the audience. Now back in 1965 at five…

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A Personal Head Start Story: Sandy Castor
Mel Gravely
03-May-2016

A Personal Head Start Story: Sandy Castor

My name is Sandy Castor and I am a 1987 graduate of Montclair Childhood Development Center (MCDC), the Baldwin Street location. And I continue to be an active member of my MCDC community as a community member on the Policy Council. Since graduating Head Start I have been very fortunate and blessed to attend some…

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A Personal Head Start Story: Dr. Chanda Nicole Holsey
Mel Gravely
28-August-2014

A Personal Head Start Story: Dr. Chanda Nicole Holsey

Head Start provided a foundation for me to reach higher heights and deeper depths. I am Dr. Chanda Nicole Holsey and before I attended any other educational institutions, I was a Head Start kid. I hail from Los Angeles, California; however, I resided in the Atlanta area for 15 years after I completed college. I…

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