Faustina Vasquez

Faustina Vasquez is a passionate advocate for education and family engagement, serving as a parent, President of the Policy Council for Direct Services in North Carolina, and a member of the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (ECMHSP) Board of Directors. Her journey is deeply rooted in her own experiences as a former migrant farmworker, inspiring her commitment to empowering families and fostering opportunities for success through quality early childhood education. 

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For Vasquez, education is more than a personal goal—it is a cornerstone for building stability and a better future for her family. Despite significant challenges, she has pursued her dreams and now works as a Registered Nurse, while advancing her career through graduate studies at Purdue University to become a Nurse Practitioner. Her husband, who left school in the ninth grade, stands alongside her in prioritizing education for their children, recognizing its transformative power. 

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In addition to her professional achievements, Vasquez devotes her time to guiding ECMHSP’s Board of Directors, leading the parent Policy Council, and serving as the President of the Parent Advisory Council at the Faison campus. Her leadership ensures that programs not only provide high-quality education but also support parents and engage families holistically. 

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As third-generation farmworkers, Vasquez and her husband possess extensive knowledge of the agricultural industry, drawing from their upbringing and personal experiences. Her family has deep ties to citrus farming; her grandfather, father, and uncles picked oranges in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, her family of five continues the tradition of seasonal work, moving between Florida and North Carolina. During their six months in North Carolina, their two younger children benefit from the early childhood education programs offered at the Faison ECMHSP campus. The remainder of the year is spent in Florida, where they work in cabbage and other crops. 

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Vasquez’s inspiring story exemplifies resilience, leadership, and the power of education to break cycles of hardship, ensuring brighter futures for the next generation.