A New Chapter for NAEHCY: A Message from Executive Director Deirdre Lynch Nicholson
I am honored and excited to be leading NAEHCY into the future, the next chapter in a rich 35-year history of advocacy and professional development on behalf of youth experiencing homelessness. Now more than ever, it is essential to accomplish the mission-critical work of building awareness and best practices to combat youth homelessness.
We know that more than 4 million youth and young adults experience homelessness in the United States each year, and sadly, we also know that statistics fail to capture the true number of youth impacted due to gaps in identification strategies. These students are significantly less likely to graduate high school than their housed peers. This is simply unacceptable.
My personal connection to advocacy on behalf of youth experiencing homelessness began in high school when fellow students from a summer class ended up unaccompanied at a youth shelter where I volunteered. Witnessing this firsthand ignited my passion to ensure educational access and advocacy are a reality for these vulnerable students.
Education is a key lever for change and advancement for students and holds the power to change the trajectory of the youth we serve and the lives of their families, their communities, and future generations.
NAEHCY has the power, through our dedicated membership and committed stakeholders, to elevate the voices and needs of youth and families experiencing homelessness and the impactful stories of the professionals who are often the unsung heroes working tirelessly to support the educational success of students throughout the country.
We all have an origin story, the “why” driving our dedication to this cause. Each year, thousands of our members and partners come together at the annual NAEHCY conference because of our common bond and commitment to serving students, families, and our communities.
This year, NAEHCY’s conference promises to be the best ever, offering a range of exciting opportunities to connect, learn, and empower one another. We are excited to see our members in Orlando and ignite the spark for NAEHCY’s next chapter.
We’re also excited to unveil new professional development and technical assistance offerings in the coming months to strengthen our connection with our members. (Stay tuned for details!)
Connect with us to stay informed and be the first to know about conference updates, upcoming webinars, and member highlights to give you a sneak peek into NAEHCY’s Now and NAEHCY’s Next steps toward the future!
To all of our members and partners working tirelessly to improve educational outcomes for homeless and housing-insecure students, I commend the dedication of all of our members and partners who work tirelessly to improve educational outcomes and equity on behalf of homeless and housing-insecure students. We appreciate your commitment and look forward to seeing you for a content-rich 2024 NAEHCY Conference in Orlando!
Together, we are continuing to make a difference and are collectively a part of NAEHCY’s now and NAEHCY’s next!
Sincerely,
Deirdre Lynch Nicholson