Our MCH Advocacy Fellows played a big role in the conference this year, and we have a reflection piece for you. This week Ranee Rock will share her conference highlights and experiences with you. Please enjoy this hot off-the-press piece!
👋 Hi there! For those of you who I haven’t met yet, I’m Ranee Rock, a Policy Fellow with the MCH Advocacy Fellowship Program.
As I started reflecting on my conference experience, I realized that I wanted to take full advantage of this wonderful and amazing opportunity of being in this fellowship during the conference. I elected to participate in as much behind-the-scenes event planning as I possibly could. I do not envy the MCH staff at all as the details of event planning are enormous, yet very rewarding to see the results in the end. I am grateful to have been a contributor in the listening session decisions and planning as this was different from what we are used to in an MCH conference and most importantly I am eager to learn an effective process of compiling all of your innovative ideas of possible solutions in ending homelessness and convert the information into agenda items for a legislative agenda that is collectively representative of all our voices.
My #MCHCONF Highlight
I was able to be present at the MCH conference in a completely different way in contributing to the award ceremony process. To witness the humility and happiness when nominees who had no idea they were even nominated learn they are award recipients, brings a genuine and authentic feeling of joy to your soul when you take pleasure in seeing everyone win, not just yourself. I am completely honored and privileged to not only author a winner’s bio summary but also to present the award.
A Learning Moment from the ConferenceÂ
For some reason I felt this self-induced pressure in providing a great keynote speech in which I could not find the right words. I believe that it was due to wanting to capture the right words to speak to the wonderful opportunity and the rewards from participating in it as words of encouragement to express to other lived experience individuals should consider if they seek to develop leadership skills in growth as leaders in their communities. Instead, I found myself winging it all the way through. Oh boy! I do not recommend doing that, hahaha! This was a learning moment for me and I will prepare my remarks in advance from now on. I also will take advantage of the run-through sessions we do as a team, and use them as a true practice for myself and the event.
Growing in my Leadership Skills
I love learning in my role with the fellowship and the #MCHCONF was a great place to learn and network. There are no words that can describe my gratitude and appreciation for MCH in selecting me to participate in this fellowship as I continue to learn so much from all the staff at MCH. A big thank you to the Pohlad Foundation for allowing this fellowship to exist & an equally big thank you to MCH for not only selecting me for the fellowship but also for believing in me more than I initially did. I will take away so much from this fellowship! The new skills, teamwork, and learnings necessary to help me grow and develop into a strong and effective leader that I know is emerging. 💚     Â
— Ranee (and the rest of the team at MCH)