Brandi Slaughter, associate clinical professor at the University of Maryland and program director of The Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative in Advocacy for Children, Youth and Families, reflects on her first year at UMD while celebrating the initiative's progress and Karabelle Pizzigati's enduring legacy.
November 1 marked one year as a professor at the University of Maryland and program director of the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative. When I moved to Maryland from Ohio, it was an adventure. Moving during a pandemic, leaving my only child to fend for himself, arriving in College Park where I didn’t know one soul and transitioning from consulting to a collegiate classroom all added to the excitement.
My first year has been filled with adjustments and lessons learned, and it has all been well worth it. In Ohio, I had spent years developing relationships with children’s advocates, elected officials and funders on behalf of Ohio’s children. Now I have this ripe opportunity to forge new partnerships in a shared goal to positively impact the lives of children through the development of the next generation of children’s advocates – a generation who will envision a bold path forward for kids, offer new strategies and implement fresh ideas for their success.
Beyond my work anniversary, this is also the season when we collectively give thanks for all the good things in our lives. As I reflect, I am overwhelmed. There is a lot to celebrate.