Currently, Head Start in Minnesota has elected, Maria Birkeland, the first Latina to represent parents of  REGION V (southern agencies, Prairie V, western, south western, MN Valley, three rivers, semcac, and child care R&R).  “As a representative of the community I am very proud to have been chosen for this job. I came across this program when I had my first child.  During that time, I did not speak much English; however, I attended the meetings and tried my best to understand what they said.  Despite the language barrier, I was always willing to participate.  By the time I had my second child I worked in the legal offices of Tejeda Guzman as a bilingual representative.  Later on, I was asked to work as a part time assistant for Head Start.  The pay was great and lunch was included.  That was the ideal job for me because I was able to share with my child and at the same time learning useful skills, understanding better the child‘s behavior, which many times are unknown for us as parents.” Maria said.

 Maria Birkeland also added, “now, I have a greater responsibility as the first Latina to be elected to represent families during the next three years at different local and national events.  This is a unique and unforgettable experience that I share with all those involved in the area that I oversee.  The tasks are many because I have to ensure that I teach people what I learn in the workshops.  Monthly reports have to be submitted and explained at the numerous conferences and training workshops we provide.  I believe that parents should attend the meetings for head start and become more involved with the organization in order to have a better opportunity to learn and work alongside with their children.”