McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY Barbara Volpe, M.Ed. | March 8, 2021

A woman wearing glasses and a suit is smiling in front of a flag.

Sim Loh is a family partnership coordinator at Children’s Village, a nationally-accredited Keystone 4 STARS early learning and school-age enrichment program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serving about 350 children. She supports children and families, including non-English speaking families of immigrant status, by ensuring equitable access to education, health, employment, and legal information and resources on a day-to-day basis. She is a member of the Children First Racial Equity Early Childhood Education Provider Council, a community member representative of Philadelphia School District Multilingual Advisory Council, and a board member of Historic Philadelphia.


Sim explains, “I ensure families know their rights and educate them on ways to speak up for themselves and request for interpretation/translation services. I share families’ stories and experiences with legislators and decision-makers so that their needs are understood. Attending Leadership Connections will help me strengthen and grow my skills in all domains by interacting with and hearing from experienced leaders in different positions. With newly acquired skills, I seek to learn about the systems level while paying close attention to the accessibility and barriers of different systems and resources and their impacts on young children and their families.”

This document may be printed, photocopied, and disseminated freely with attribution. All content is the property of the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.

A pile of buttons with the words more than just buttons above them

So many stories float around in my head. Stories from my past that make up my history, and define who I am today. My core values and beliefs arise from and are shaped by this history.


I have a jar of buttons sitting on my desk. I love to look at them, take them out, and marvel over their varying colors, shapes, and textures. They link me to my grandmother and remind me of storytelling, handiwork, saving, and connection. As a child, when I stayed with my grandmother, she would give me her button box to play with while she worked. Some buttons had stories connected to them, memories of her childhood and family. She would tell me about the blue fabric buttons from a coat that had been her mother’s. She treasured those buttons because her mother passed away when she was eight. There were the metal military buttons from a brother who served in the armed forces. Old, yellowed pearl buttons from a fancy dress she wore to a dance. Tiny buttons from my father’s baby clothes. Many buttons were simply utilitarian, carefully cut off old dresses or shirts to be used again. Some buttons were frivolous; made of silk fabric or with rhinestones and fancy shapes. They were a treasure box for a young child and an even greater treasure was the memories she shared from the stories she would tell. Today, as I think back on her stories about the buttons in her box, I understand how simple things, such as buttons, can hold a story. Grandma, through story, connected me to a piece of history and to my family’s history.


We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories.

There is not a stronger connection between people than storytelling.


– Jimmy Neil Smith, Director of the International Storytelling Center

 

Our staff have histories and stories, too. Our stories share something personal about ourselves. When we tell our stories we are sharing a piece of ourselves and in doing so, we make a connection with those who hear our story. Storytelling can be a way of building community, through sharing something real about ourselves. Listening to one another’s stories can help us to understand differing perspectives, find areas of commonality, and help us move from judgement to empathy.


Storytelling can help to build trust among staff and help foster empathy; however, while some people easily share their stories, others may be more reluctant. Some staff may think they do not have a story or that their story is not interesting. Others may feel no one cares to hear their story; they do not want to feel judged or they may prefer their privacy. One way to begin incorporating storytelling into your organization is to facilitate a themed visual collage activity at a staff meeting with a general topic. The general topic is a nonthreatening way of sharing a story. Some examples of more general topics are: “Envision a perfect learning environment for children. What would it reflect?” or “Reflect on places in nature where you have found peace and share an experience.” Through these shared stories, your staff will hopefully develop as a community. Then you can add themes that explore deeper, more personal topics; for example, “Tell about a time you felt: courageous, challenged, proud, loved, or inspired.” Or “What brings you joy?” “What motivates you?” “What was a life changing moment for you?”


Stories create community,

enable us to see through the eyes of other people,

and open us to the claims of others.


– Peter Forbes


The following is a list of materials that might be used to create visual collage story:


  • Cardstock
  • Small poster board or matte board
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Pictures out of magazines
  • Photos
  • Scrapbook paper


Below are several other resources to encourage storytelling.


Apps, Online Programs, and Software for Creating Digital Visual Story Boards




Resources for Creating Vision Boards or Visual Collages



Storytelling is just one idea for connecting with staff. Join a McCormick Center leadership academy to learn more about building relationships, improving organizational climate, and developing effective leadership practices. Check out our upcoming academies on the McCormick Center website.

Barbara Volpe, M.Ed. is Leadership Academy Manager for the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. In this role she coordinates and facilitates leadership and quality improvement training for early childhood administrators, teachers, and technical assistance providers. Barb has over 20 years of leadership and management experience. Barb enjoys developing trainings and has made many local, statewide, and national presentations. Barb obtained her master’s degree from National Louis University in early childhood administration and her baccalaureate degree in child and family development from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

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Building Community Partnerships for Lasting Impact

By Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha • December 12, 2025
By Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha Community collaborations can strengthen your early childhood program, expand services for families, and increase your visibility and credibility as a trusted resource in the community. But effective partnerships don’t begin with a phone call—they start with a plan. Start with internal planning Before reaching out to community members or organizations, gather insights from your internal team. Hold a brief planning meeting to discuss goals, identify needs, and build a shared vision for collaboration. Consider including: Members of your board of directors or advisory board Program staff members Interested family members and parents of enrolled children. REVISIT your mission and goals A clear, shared understanding of your program’s purpose will guide effective partnerships. Before reaching out to community members or organizations, gather insights from your internal team. Hold a brief planning meeting to discuss goals, identify needs, and build a shared vision for collaboration. Consider including: What is your mission? What strengths and expertise do we bring to the community? What challenges do our enrolled families face? What support or resources would be most helpful? What can we offer potential partners in return? Clarity about these questions will ensure that your outreach to community members and organizations is focused and meaningful. Learn about local resources Begin exploring the services and organizations that exist in your community. These may become valuable referral partners or direct collaborators. Examples include: Early intervention services Family support agencies Mental health providers Multilingual tax-preparation volunteers Knowing these resources helps you connect families with the help they need. share your space and services Your early childhood center may be a valuable asset for other groups. Consider offering your space to other programs or groups to strengthen your role as a community hub. Possibilities include: Scouting America or Girl Scout meetings Parenting workshops or support groups Health screenings or nutrition programs Community committee meetings participate in community events Raising visibility in your community opens doors to partnership. Become involved in: Neighborhood clean-up days Local fairs or festivals Library literacy events Cultural celebrations School district events These types of interactions naturally build trust and relationships. build and expand your network Partnerships often begin with small conversations or shared goals. Stay curious and connected—the more people you meet, the more opportunities arise. Potential collaborators include: Museums Public libraries Human services departments Colleges and universities Local schools Cooperative Extension services Hospitals and clinics Banks and financial advisors Mental health agencies Early intervention programs Remember: partnerships are mutually beneficial Successful collaborations are built on: Clear communication Shared goals Appreciation for each other’s strengths A commitment to supporting families and the community Whether the support you receive is financial, advisory, or educational, strong partnerships help everyone thrive. A final thought Community partnerships don’t happen overnight. With the proper planning, your early childhood program can become a powerful and connected resource in your neighborhood. Start small, stay open to ideas, and let relationships grow.
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