By Claire Louge
Executive Director
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
In 2009, I moved across the country from my hometown of Ithaca, New York, to Prescott, Arizona, by myself. I packed as much as I could into my 2001 Toyota Corolla, and knew I’d piece the rest of my new life together with thrift store furniture and a resourceful spirit.
I moved here to be an AmeriCorps VISTA with First Things First (FTF) in Yavapai County, and anticipated living in Arizona for one year.
FTF had only been created a few years before, in 2006, through a voter-protected ballot measure, in which Arizonans created an 80-cent-per-pack tax on tobacco products to fund a new state agency dedicated to the development and health of young children 5 and under.
I had studied human development in college, but as any student discovers, there’s a difference between learning on paper and learning by experience. In the course of that year with FTF, I became steeped in knowledge of early childhood, and how this period in human life is not only foundational at the individual level, but also to the outcomes of our community, our state, and our nation.
As I was about to complete my year of AmeriCorps service, a job opened up at FTF, which I applied for and landed. I became FTF’s Yavapai Regional Community Outreach Coordinator, a job that required me to frequently give presentations about the importance of early childhood and the work of First Things First.
Like many people might be, I was anxious about the public speaking part of the job, mostly because I had been struggling with a stutter since the age of 8. But the more I gave presentations, the more my stutter faded – not only with public speaking, but also in my daily conversations. The more I learned about the field of early childhood, the more passionate I became. I had found a clarity of purpose and it literally clarified my voice. Public speaking on what I care about is now one of my favorite things to do.
In the course of my role, I attended a presentation given by Becky Ruffner, the founder and then-executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Arizona. She introduced the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and explained that the quantity of these experiences – which include things like child maltreatment and traumatic family crises – were linked to a person’s likelihood of developing any of our nation’s leading health and social problems.
I was stunned by the data’s clarity. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. A few years later, I asked Becky for job. She happened to have an opening for a Training and Conference Manager. She thought my hungry mind would like the content of the conferences I would get to plan. She was right. And the more I learned, the clearer my career’s purpose became.
In 2019, when Becky announced her retirement, I ignored my nagging imposter syndrome and applied for her job. I didn’t have much management experience, but I had big vision, a heart for the mission, and a desire to preserve the organizational culture.
Getting this job changed my life. For the past 6 years, I’ve continued to learn a great deal about the needs and strengths of Arizona’s families and the resources available to support them. It’s become increasingly evident that we need to do a better job at supporting people who raise children. Doing so can prevent abuse and neglect before it ever happens.
I now have a 3-year-old daughter. As I suspected it would, the work has become more personal. And though balancing the job of parenting with the job of leading a nonprofit is sometimes grueling, it’s astoundingly meaningful. This work is full of hope and possibility. So are children.
I’ve now been in Arizona for 16 years, and what’s clearer than ever is this: When kids get a good start, it’s better for everyone. We all have a role to play in designing the world we want to live in: a world in which all families and children – including mine and yours – live happy and purposeful lives, with hope for the future.