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NMSHSA Monthly Newsletter - Issue 69 - 2025

Hispanic Heritage Month

This Hispanic Heritage Month, NMSHSA recognizes and honors the MSHS staff and teachers who work together to uplift and empower MSHS students by going above and beyond in celebrating Hispanic heritage, culture, and traditions! 

All throughout the year, MSHS centers are intentional about ensuring children are proud of who they are and where they come from. Whether it’s by speaking in Spanish, providing authentic foods from Hispanic countries, or dressing up in traditional clothing—they find a way to make it happen! 

This is crucial to the development of the children enrolled in MSHS because it builds their confidence as they prepare to step further into their educational journey!

We thank East Coast Migrant Head Start Project for sending us the pictures used in this graphic to demonstrate one of the many ways MSHS staff and teachers celebrate Hispanic Heritage.

Happy Head Start Awareness Month!

NMSHSA is proud to advocate for and be a part of the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start world where every farmworker child and family is uplifted and empowered!

For over 55 years, MSHS programs have successfully given farmworker children the stepping stones and foundation they need to head into their academic journeys with strength and confidence.

Children are our hope for the future! They deserve a head start, never a set back.

Join us in celebrating this special month as we share stories, testimonials and facts about MSHS! NMSHSA is proud to highlight the exceptional advocacy efforts that go above and beyond in supporting and advancing investment in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs.

2026 NMSHSA Summer Internship Program

In celebration of the yearly Hispanic Heritage Month overlap with Head Start Awareness Month, NMSHSA is officially opening the 2026 Summer Internship Program Application!

This internship is open to all former Migrant and Seasonal Head Start students who are currently in college working towards their bachelor's degree.

NMSHSA encourages all eligible students to apply to this one-of-a-kind opportunity where they will spend a summer in the nation’s capital advocating for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs and farmworker rights!

Help us spread the word by sharing this wonderful opportunity for farmworker students to grow!

NMSHSA Seeking Host/Mentors for Summer Internships

The 2026 NMSHSA Summer Internship Program Application is open and we are on the hunt for host families in the DC area to volunteer a space in their home for one of our summer interns! 

Host families are such a special part of our Internship program as they provide connection and comfort to our interns while they take on the hustle and bustle of the city—and our interns appreciate that! 

Take it from Class of 2025 Alumna, Hannia Hernandez, "Living with Janneke hasn’t just shaped how I think about leadership—it has shaped how I see myself and the kind of person I want to be in the world. She has shown me, day by day, that real leadership happens in the small, often unseen moments of care, connection, and courage. Her consistent affirmation of a successful career in my future has only strengthened my belief in it and for that I am forever grateful. I will always be grateful for the lessons I’ve learned under her roof and for the chance to see what true leadership looks like—lived out with humility, generosity, and an open heart."

Sign up or spread the word and be a part of the impact next summer! 

For more information about the application process or the internship itself, visit our website or email our Program Manager, Ilda Martinez, at ilda@nmshsa.org. 

2026 NMSHSA Annual Conference

It is with great excitement that we announce our dates and locations for the 2026 NMSHSA Annual Conference! From March 7-12, join the NMSHSA team and our MSHS family from across the country in Costa Mesa, California at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa Hotel for a week of joy, learning, and empowerment! 

NMSHSA Scholarships and POB Awards

Looking for a scholarship opportunity? Ready to nominate someone for our annual Plate of Bounty award? We have good news for you! Applications for our Clint Mitcham Scholarship, our Bill Castellanos Scholarship, and Plate of Bounty award are now open, with a submission deadline of December 12. We look forward to reviewing your applications and celebrating the recipients at our 2025 NMSHSA Annual Conference!

Plate of Bounty Award

We are inviting the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) community for the opportunity to recognize a deserving individual who has made significant contributions for MSHS programs, children, and families. The nomination categories are: 

• Parents (current or former) 
• Growers and Food Processors 
• Community partners/supporters (migrant clinic staff, school artists, volunteers, vendors, etc.) 
• Agency/Program Staff and Board (CEOs, MSHS directors, Board members) 

Bill Castellanos Parent Scholarship Award

The $1,000 scholarship is open to individuals who are currently pursuing their education in an institute of higher learning and have had a child enrolled in a minimum of one season or currently have a child enrolled in a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program.

Clint Mitcham Scholarship Award

The $1,000 scholarship is open to individuals who have a minimum of three completed seasons of experience working with a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) program and are pursuing a degree in education, child development, social services, or related field.

For more information and to fill the application forms, in English or Spanish, select the links below

2026 California Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Conference

NMSHSA is thrilled to say that the 2025 California MSHS Conference was a success and because of that, it is making a comeback in 2026! We will be partnering with our friends at Stanislaus County Office of Education in Modesto, California to bring this conference to life for the second year in a row! 

Stay tuned as we get ready to announce the date and hotel location. In the meantime, keep this event on your radar and share it with your Migrant and Seasonal Head Start educators! This year we hope to bring in and see more teachers from around the country who have never experienced our MSHS community in this special way before! 

Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Job Center

Search for job opportunities in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) programs anywhere in the U.S.

If your organization is interested in publishing a new job announcement, please complete the contact us form, selecting the category Job Opportunity.