Much of what has been achieved in terms of funding and access to the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program can be directly traced to Alison’ 25 year commitment and her passion, her strategy, and her unwavering dedication. She leaves everything better than she found it, and her legacy lives on in the countless lives she has touched on behalf of the families who feed our nation.

• Architect of National Presence: A visionary architect in establishing and institutionalizing the presence of the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association in Washington, D.C., ensuring that the voices of agricultural worker families were not only heard, but respected at the highest levels of policy and decision-making.
• Champion of Federal Policy Advancement: Dedicated more than five years to shaping, refining, and advancing the Head Start Act—work that culminated in the landmark Head Start Reauthorization of 2008, strengthening and modernizing the program for generations to come.
• Expander of Opportunity: Instrumental in broadening the federal definition of “agricultural worker,” opening doors for entire sectors of farmworking families to access and benefit from the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program.
• Barrier Breaker for Families: Worked tirelessly alongside targeted Congressional committees to eliminate restrictive income eligibility guidelines—removing systemic barriers and expanding access for thousands of underserved agricultural families.
• Trusted Policy Strategist: A deeply respected and influential partner to Congressional leaders and committees, known for navigating complex policy landscapes with precision, integrity, and purpose.
• A Constant Force in the Field: The steady presence in the world of National AgFamilies Head Start Association (NAFSHA, formerly National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association) —always present, always strategic, always asking how we can do more, reach more, and serve better.
• Relentless Advocate for Equity: Committed her life’s work to ensuring that agricultural communities were not just seen, but valued—advancing dignity, opportunity, and access through the power of early childhood education.

Alison’s impact cannot be measured solely in policy wins or legislative milestones—it is reflected in opportunity created, barriers removed, and futures forever changed. Her fingerprints are on the progress we celebrate today, and her spirit will continue to guide this work for generations to come.