Today we’d like to introduce you to MJ Korpela.
Hi MJ, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I started out, I planned to be a therapist. I studied psychology and Spanish in undergrad. and counseling psychology in grad. school, with a focus on trauma, families, and racial inequities. I knew I wanted to support healing in families that faced unequal realities because of the communities they were born into or the identities they represent. Throughout the first decade of my career, I spent time working in after school programs, a rape and sexual abuse center, crisis response with families, and inpatient mental health treatment with children and teens, all with the purpose of treating mental health symptoms related to trauma. I learned a lot from the families I was able to share space with, and as time passed, a few themes were consistently apparent across focus areas, across family structures, and even across geographies:
1. The majority of concerns low-income families seek services for are direct results of poverty. Poverty meant elevated stress, limited access to necessary resources like housing, food, and transportation, often subpar education and development, and lots of shame and guilt to carry along the way. We are typically treating the symptoms of poverty with some sort of self-improvement strategy or access to a specific resource without addressing poverty itself. We often operate from the perspective that we can “fix” families so that they can be successful, but families are already managing an extensive list of priorities and creatively solving complex problems together. Those of us with the privilege of financial stability just aren’t always able to see it from a different perspective. My mindset changed from “helping” families to “partnering” with families experiencing poverty in an effort to work together to overcome the many obstacles stacked against them.
2. We often wait too long. Stress and inequitable access to resources start before birth for many, but we tend to wait until poverty has taken its toll on development, mental health, relationships, and educational achievement before intervening. We are reacting to known problems, offering therapy, classes, or resources, but not finding ways to proactively prevent those concerns from developing in the first place.
3. Systemic inequities around race, class, gender and a long list of other identities can make it nearly impossible for families to find mobility. I started to grow frustrated with how hard families were working to build a better future, only to be faced with a new obstacle, policy, or event that left them right back at the starting line. Even when we have found successful strategies (and we have!), we can only support a limited number of parents and children. For every 100 served, there are thousands more facing the same challenges. We have to both invest in proactive interventions that are proven effective AND find ways to influence the “big picture” and alter the systems in place on a larger scale.
I connected with Mainspring Schools in 2014, and the trajectory of my career and personal perspective changed forever. I was quickly struck by the power of early childhood education to influence the trajectory of a child’s life while simultaneously empowering entire family systems! I joined the Mainspring family as Family Services Director, building off of an incredible 80 years history the non-profit preschool has of supporting families and preparing children for success in education. It became quickly apparent that Mainspring, and programs like it, could be the large-scale answer to simultaneously ensuring educational success, building social capital, investing in the whole family proactively, and using our data and voice to influence understanding and systemic change for families living in poverty.
Since 2014 we’ve expanded to serve more children and families, implemented an evidenced-based trauma-informed behavior intervention (https://child.tcu.edu/about-us/tbri/#sthash.iY9vpgV8.dpbs) offered attachment centered parenting curriculum (https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com), become an in-district charter school with AISD, and earned a list of awards and accreditations. Most importantly, we’ve walked alongside families of all structures and identities as they’ve navigated the challenges of poverty and trauma, charted a path forward, and faced countless successes and setbacks along the way. The lessons I’ve received about the strength and resilience of caregivers, the harsh realities of our social and economic systems, the power of relationships, and the opportunities we’re missing as a nation by allowing systemic poverty to continue are endless. I’ve had the opportunity to share joy and sorrow and build lasting relationships with others doing this meaningful work. I’ve also learned a tremendous amount about myself and am still continuously challenged to confront my own privilege and biases in order to be a better ally to communities in poverty, families of color, non-traditional family structures, and other traditionally disenfranchised populations. I’m incredibly grateful.
Recently, I made the transition from leading programs in order to support other leaders in the work toward family empowerment and equitable outcomes. I’ve joined an incredibly dynamic, experienced, and impactful team of professionals at MAYA Consulting (https://www.mayaconsultingllc.com). My niche at MAYA is partnerships focused on family empowerment, early childhood education, trauma and attachment, and leadership development within the context of these priorities. After years of opportunity to learn and grow directly with children, families, and the teams who care for them, I’m taking the lessons I’ve learned and sharing them. I continue to serve on the advisory board at Mainspring and am also a member of the Austin advisory board of UpTogether, a non-profit focused on narrative change and direct investment in low-income families in central Texas (https://uptogether.org). Ultimately, I hope to impact the way we view families, poverty, racial inequities, and education in central Texas and beyond, one partnership at a time, creating a ripple effect for years to come.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
While there have been moments of joy, growth, and opportunity as a result of this work, there are continuous challenges. Personally, I continue an ongoing, internal battle of reconciling two truths:
1. One thing I know for certain, through both my own experience coming from poverty and through my work with families: Hard work and strong values do not always mean opportunities for success in this country. I’ve watched both my own family members and the hundreds of caregivers I’ve partnered with work hard and care fiercely for their families and communities, only to be faced with continuous hardship and discrimination. Coming to terms with this reality continues to be a challenge for me, as it is for many in this work. Despite coming from poverty, though, I’m privileged in many ways. So, my best strategy for managing the weight of this truth is committing to using my privilege for good and working to create opportunities for those different from me.
2. So much of giving voice and empowering both children and caregivers is done through deep connection and understanding. This means being willing to be open, invested, and vulnerable right alongside the individuals we serve. Poverty is messy, and though there is beauty in the work, there are also moments of hurt and hopelessness. When we’re doing the work well, we feel those moments genuinely and then come back the next day and do it again. Since positive change, whether systemic or individual, doesn’t happen overnight, success requires long-term sustainability. Sustainability requires a constant, intentional effort to balance service, rest, introspection, challenge, and grace. It’s easy to lose track of any of these intentions, which can lead to blind spots in service, stagnation, or personal burnout at work and at home. This is by far the hardest lesson and skill set I’ve had to learn in my life, amplified exponentially by COVID-19, and I’m still a work in progress.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Mainspring Schools?
Mainspring is a best-in-class nonprofit preschool established in 1941 that eliminates the early childhood school readiness gap and supports families in designing their own futures.
Our mission is to deliver the highest quality early education and care to Austin’s most economically disadvantaged children – along with trauma-informed services, so each child and parent have the tools and support they need to overcome the barriers faced by families in poverty, ultimately experiencing success in school and life.
What sets us apart: Our families come from all over Austin and represent different backgrounds, ethnicities and socio-economic levels. We believe this diversity is crucial to developing self-aware, well-rounded children and believe in the strength of connected, healthy communities with relationships built across income and identity.
I am most proud of the innovative, adaptive, intentionally developed Mainspring Model:
We prioritize high-quality learning, physical and emotional health, and family-centered engagement. All are equally attended to, and all can be adjusted based on the current needs of our families and team. We capitalize on all the resources available to us to produce real, measurable outcomes for our families and make every effort to support others doing similar work.
The part of our Mainspring brand that’s most impactful: At Mainspring, we believe “There is no such thing as another person’s child” and work to live that value each day. If all of us felt invested in and responsible for all of the children in our communities, we would demand change and expect only the best, in the same way that we do for our own children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc. We make it a point to view all programming, decisions, and messaging through this lens and look to inspire our partners in this work to do the same.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
To support Mainspring’s Mission and Impact:
Invest in families and the future of our communities: https://give.mainspringschools.org/campaign/80-for-80/c318747
Are you a young family? Choose to be a part of diverse, impactful, inclusive community: https://www.mainspringschools.org/attend
To learn more: Visit mainspringschools.org or email info@mainspringschools.org
Interested in partnering with MJ and the MAYA team to empower families and improve outcomes in your program? Email me: MJ@mayaconsultingllc.com or visit mayaconsultingllc.com
Contact Info:
- Email: MJ@mayaconsultingllc.com
- Website: Mainspringschools.org, mayaconsultingllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mainspringschools/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MainspringSchools
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HUcGCXW8ic, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtKXy-53TSk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS8WXxCPLaI&t=16s
- Other: A recent panel on strength-based investment in families for those looking to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsZtvagvw08
