Famous Head Start Graduates: Success Stories from Across the Nation

Head Start is a federal program in the United States that has been instrumental in providing comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. Over 37 million children have been served by Head Start since its inception in 1965, helping them prepare for school and life.

But What happens to Head Start graduates once they’re out of the program? Are they still flourishing and making progress toward their goals?The answer is a resounding yes!

 In a variety of field of sectors, Head Start graduates have risen to the top of their profession as leaders, innovators, and influencers. They’ve also contributed to their respective communities and societies in an important way.

Over the years, Head Start has had numerous success stories and graduates who have gone on to achieve great things in their lives. Here are a few notable examples of famous

Head Start graduates:

1. Barack Obama: The 44th President of the United States, has publicly stated that he attended a Head Start program in Hawaii as a child.

2. Bill Clinton: Former President Bill Clinton mentioned attending a Head Start program in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas.

3. John McCain: The late Senator John McCain had a childhood connection with Head Start. His daughter, Meghan McCain, has spoken about his time in a Head Start program in Arizona.

4. Henry Cisneros: The former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton has been associated with Head Start, highlighting his early educational experiences, including Head Start, as being influential in his life.

5. Angela Bassett: Hollywood actress, Angela Bassett, has mentioned her participation in a Head Start program while growing up in St. Petersburg, Florida.

6. Geoffrey Canada: American educator, social activist, and author known for his work transforming education and improving the lives of disadvantaged children. Geoffrey Canada is the founder of Harlem's Children's Zone, an organization dedicated to breaking poverty by providing education and community support. Canada himself had been a Head Start graduate and attributes his success to the early opportunities he had been given through the Head Start program.

7. Dolores Huerta: Dolores Huerta is a civil rights activist and labor leader who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (which later became the United Farm Workers). She is known for her tireless advocacy for farmworkers' rights and her efforts to improve social and economic conditions for marginalized communities. Huerta credits her early education in Head Start for igniting her passion for social justice.

8. Dr. Angela Diaz: The renowned physician and public health expert who has dedicated her career to improving the health and well-being of adolescents and young adults. She is the founder of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center in New York City, one of the largest adolescent health centers in the United States. As a child, Dr. Diaz participated in the Head Start program, emphasizing the positive impact it had on her educational development.

9. Sonia Sotomayor: Sonia Sotomayor is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, appointed in 2009. She is the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court and has a remarkable personal and professional journey. Sotomayor wrote in her memoirs that the Head Start program was crucial to her earliest learning and had been a source of foundation and support for her when she needed it.

10. Ben Carson: The renowned neurosurgeon and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development attended a Head Start program as a child.

11. Shaquille O'Neal: The basketball legend, sports analyst, rapper, and entrepreneur is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He has won four NBA championships, three NBA Finals MVP awards, and one NBA MVP award. An honorary U.S. Marshall, and recipient of both an MBA and a Doctorate in Education, O’Neal attended a Head Start program in Newark, New Jersey.

 “Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit,” Shaq has said about education. “You are what you repeatedly do.”

12. Anna Maria Chavez: The first Latina CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA was also a Head Start graduate. She led the organization's efforts to empower girls and women through leadership development, STEM education, and civic engagement. She is now the executive director and CEO of the National School Boards Association.

These are just a few examples of the many success stories and graduates of the Head Start program. Countless individuals have benefited from the program's early education, health services, and family support, which have helped them overcome obstacles and achieve their goals in life. They are proof of Head Start's lasting legacy and potential for children and families.

If you are a Head Start graduate or know someone who is, we invite you to join the National Head Start Alumni Network.

Sources:

(1) Head Start program helps individuals and families achieve success and get .... https://legacy.wral.com/head-start-program-helps-individuals-families-achieve-success-and-get-ahead-of-the-class/19326924/.

(2) Head Start Alumni Network - NHSA. https://nhsa.org/Alumni/.

(3) #GetaHeadStart Alumni Stories | ECLKC. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/ersea/article/getaheadstart-alumni-stories.

(4) Head Start group tries to track down 27 million alumni. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/head-start-group-tries-to-track-down-27-million-alumni/2013/08/08/c3eadbac-ff71-11e2-9711-3708310f6f4d_story.html.

(5) Head Start Alumni: Honoring 50 Years in 50 States. https://www.ffyf.org/head-start-alumni-honoring-50-years-in-50-states/.

(6) Head Start and Early Head Start Success Stories. http://www.nccdi.com/hsehs-success-stories.html