Dr. Sam Meisels said, “Interconnectivity is key to success.” It was his last Directors’ Meeting at Buffett Early Childhood Institute before retiring when I heard him say these elegant and powerful words. Interconnectivity! My new favorite word.
To me, his words mean how important we all are to each other. Community collaborations are the vital interconnectivity we need as we strengthen goodness in our neighborhoods. People in America, Italy, Portugal, Taiwan, Turkey, Mexico, China, Ireland, Canada, Iran, Denmark, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Hungary, and UK have shared with me notes and kind words during my transition to becoming a Community Chair with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute of the University of Nebraska representing my campus at the University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK).
Thank you to UNK and Buffett Early Childhood Institute of the University of Nebraska! Buffett Institute recently had a birthday. Celebrating 10 years! The Ten Year Report is just released showing the beautiful story of the people and places that are connected to the Buffett Institute. Interconnectivity!
Baby book. That is what I think of as a comparison for the ten year report. A baby book shows pictures of developmental milestones the child and family experience. The Buffett Institute started from a newborn and is now ten years old. Happy Birthday! The story told in this book are sublime descriptions showing growth.
Here is a link to the Buffett Institute Ten Year Report:
https://buffettinstitute.nebraska.edu/-/media/beci/docs/10-year-report-pdf-spreads-final.pdf
They learned about the work we are doing in Nebraska and I’m forever grateful to my family for being with me in Kearney for this occasion when we celebrated my transition to serving as the Buffett Institute/UNK Community Chair. My sweet father bought a bespoke new suit and shoes to come to Kearney. He looked handsome and I am so proud of him! My Mom also brought her new clothes for Kearney, and they gifted me three new dresses to choose from for my big day when people came for the celebration from Nebraska and beyond. I tried on all three dresses and modeled them for her. My Mom told me to wear the blue dress. When Mama tells you to do something, you must do it (even when you’re in your 50s).
Marisa Galliano Macy, Elisabetta “Tina” Vacca Galliano, and Ronald Galliano
My parents taught me to work hard for a goal. A hot meal in morning is awesome when you jump out of bed before school. When we were growing up, my brothers (Rico and Mario) and I smelled food, but some days the smell of perm solution wafted up the stairs to our bedrooms as she was already doing someone’s hair in the beauty shop in our home before we woke up. Working parents juggle and I love my parents for modeling a strong work ethic for me. Without my parents, husband, daughter, family and friends I wouldn’t be able to do what makes me sparkle.
When we sign off on the phone my parents always say, “Make it a good one.” And of course ti amo (I love you).
Wishing you a good one today and everyday so you can be your best self for your family, friends and neighbors near and far. Dandelion wishes came true for me in 2022. One of them was with the terrific teams at Buffett Early Childhood Institute and UNK. Can’t wait to see what 2023 brings! Let good things grow with interconnectivity.
My husband Robert, daughter Adriana, and me
Dr. Sam Meisels the founding Executive Director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute. He started the Buffett Institute 10 years ago with a mission to make Nebraska the BEST place to be a baby.
Robert, me, Adriana, Mom, Dad, my brother Rico Galliano, and Molly Dore who came from Seattle to be with us. I have a magnificent family and am so grateful for them.
I’m pointing at the Buffett Institute banner which has beautiful picture of Lucy who is the granddaughter of Sam and Alice Meisels.
The sensational Dr. Kate Gallagher, from Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and I speaking at the Inclusion Institute at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Dr. Gallagher is the Director of Research and Evaluation at Buffett Institute. She had my job at UNK before me. I love her. She is one of my mentors and role models. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out her TEDTalk entitled, “The Healthy Child: Assembly Required.” It is required viewing in the preschool methods class that I teach at UNK.
UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, me, Dr. Meisels retired from Buffett Institute at University of Nebraska, and UNK COE Dean Mark Reid (left to right)
Adriana meeting Dr. Meisels for the first time.
Buffett team with the Buffett Advisory Board siting in front row with Dr. Meisels
Buffett advisory board member, Dr. Sharon Lynn Kagan, and me on our second day of board meetings October 2022 in Omaha. Pinch me…I must be dreaming!
My former student, Dr. Bingbing Zhang, who traveled from California to come to the Buffett celebration in Kearney, NE.
Dr. Walter Gilliam and I at the UNK Plambeck Early Childhood Center when he visited as a keynote speaker for the Nebraska Young Childhood Institute in June 2022. He is our new (as of March 1, 2023) Executive Director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute of the University of Nebraska. Thrilled to have the brilliant and kind Dr. Gilliam with us in Nebraska.