As we approach 2024, ECYEH Awareness Week, November 11-15, join us for an eye-opening discussion on ECYEH Awareness Week with special guest Sonia Pitzi, a dedicated regional coordinator with Pennsylvania's Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (PA ECYEH) Program. Together, we explore the transformative power of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in providing stability and educational rights. Discover how the origins of ECYEH Awareness Week focus on the critical role of education amidst the daunting challenges faced by these students.

Our conversation delves into the tradition of Wear Red Day, showcasing how symbolic red attire sparks essential conversations about student homelessness. We also spotlight progress, emphasizing the small victories that contribute significantly to the educational journey of students experiencing homelessness. This episode serves as a potent reminder of the power of education, community, and advocacy in driving change.

Read the transcript (PDF).

Links

• PA ECYEH Awareness Week Toolkit
• The Bridge Project in PA
• PA ECYEH Learning Series
• ECYEH Cell Phone Project
• Finding Your Way in PA App
• Pennsylvania Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
• Sign up for email updates
• Center for Schools and Communities

Meet Our Guest

Sonia Pitzi, Regional Coordinator, Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness, Lincoln Intermediate Unit

Sonia has worked with students experiencing homelessness for 29 years, eliminating educational barriers for homeless students and unaccompanied teens through partnerships and coordination with school districts, shelters and other community agencies. Sonia obtained her bachelor's degree in Outdoor Education (Special Populations) from Northland College in Wisconsin. In 2015, she received the national Sandra Neese Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the National Association for Education of Homeless Children and Youth. She connects with students through a shared love of pizza, firmly believes that chocolate can save both her life and the lives of others and maintains that red is the best color because it can showcase a myriad of emotions.