Two Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start program coordinators, along with approximately 50 other participants from across the nation, were selected to participate in the National Head Start Association (NHSA)/Nike Starting Block Leadership Summit, held Jan. 30-Feb. 2 at the Tiger Woods Conference Center, Nike Corporate Campus in Portland, Ore.
“The purpose of the conference was to share with emerging Head Start leaders and stakeholders foundational principles that contributed to Nike becoming number one in its field,” said Lisa Tate, program operations coordinator, who attended the conference with Denise Brown, health services coordinator.
“Our mission was to take the information shared by Nike presenters and create practical advocacy strategies that could make a significant impact in our SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Program and surrounding community,” added Brown.
The late William J. “Bill” Bowerman and Phillip H. Knight founded Blue Ribbon Sports on Jan. 25, 1964. It officially became Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1971. Nike, Inc. initially began as a footwear manufacturing company that has grown into a corporation that markets apparel, equipment, accessories and services worldwide.
“Approximately 16 years ago, Ron Herndon, Albina Head Start director and former National Head Start Association board chairman, approached Phil Knight about creating a partnership between Nike and the National Head Start Association that has evolved into an annual leadership program,” said Tate. “Herndon selected certain Head Start staffers from across the country to be part of the first NHSA/Nike Starting Block Leadership Summit, and one of them included John Lovelace, then SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start program director.”
“This year’s leadership conference was both informational and inspirational,” Brown and Tate, agreed.
“We were given tangible strategies by several guest speakers such as Lee Weinstein, Weinstein PR; Larry Miller, president of the (Nike) Jordan Brand; and Howard White, vice-president of the Jordan Brand, on how to communicate with our stakeholders and brand our program’s message,” said Tate.
“Howard White talked about how the seed is the most important part of an orange,” explained Brown. “Those who nourish the seeds are very powerful. I was inspired and empowered by that.”
Photo:
(L-R) Attending the National Head Start Association/Nike Leadership Summit were SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start program coordinators Denise Brown, health services, and Lisa Tate, program operations; and Yasmini Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association.