Arlae Alston, MA, is a ZERO TO THREE Fellow. She is a Family Engagement Project Manager at Puente de la Costa Sur, a non-profit organization that serves rural San Mateo Coast communities in southern California.
Ms. Alston works side-by-side with the families of young children who are often forgotten by our society. Because of their legal status in this country, or because they do not speak English, it is often difficult for them to receive the resources and services they need and deserve to be effective advocates for their children and successful parents. Ms. Alston has been doing front-line work with families and children for more than 15 years. She worked at Cabrillo College Children’s Center for ten years as a Master Teacher and currently serves there as adjunct faculty in the ECE department. She has worked abroad in Managua, Nicaragua, where she supported caregivers at different orphanages. She also worked for Early Head Start in Santa Cruz County as a Teacher-Director for six years. Ms. Alston received her ECE degree from Cabrillo College. At Pacific Oaks College she completed her MA in Human Development with a specialization in Leadership in Education and Human Services and a sub-specialization in Adult Education. A few years ago, she had the great opportunity to go to Budapest to participate in a training at the Pickler Institute, where Magda Gerber had her training. In her current position, Ms. Alston is the point of entry for many services for families. She considers it her privilege to walk alongside them on the unpredictable and challenging road of parenthood, a position that allows her to challenge systems, programs, and policies, and most of all, create change.
