Monique Vasquez is a fierce, proud, and outspoken advocate, dedicated to supporting families in accessing essential healthcare and services for their children. A participant in events like Strolling Thunder, Early Childhood Capitol Day and the Michigan Infant Mental Health Capitol Day, Monique serves on multiple boards and is an active leader in the Think Babies Michigan Coalition.
She attributes her lived experiences with helping her find the resources needed to thrive but recognizes that advocacy is a skill she has intentionally developed over time. While Monique’s confidence as an advocate grew gradually, she has always championed her own and her daughter’s needs. Raised in an urban environment that demanded resilience, Monique encountered significant challenges during her pregnancy.
Experiencing homelessness and serious health issues, she found herself living in her car while struggling to secure healthcare and stable housing. As her health worsened, she eventually required hospitalization and underwent an emergency C-section due to kidney failure. Her daughter was born prematurely and spent her first few months in the NICU.
Today, Monique is in a very different place. She has her own home, her daughter is healthy, thriving in developmental kindergarten, and Monique has become a formidable voice for parents and young children. “If I’m on a panel or representing parents, I am going to have something to say,” she emphasizes. “No parent should have to go through the struggles I went through.”
Monique credits home visiting programs for helping her find her voice as an advocate. Early on in her parenting journey, her home visitor encouraged her to join an advisory board, reminding her that her voice mattered. This support helped Monique refine her advocacy skills and realize the power of effective communication. “I’ve always known how to fight for what’s right, that’s just who I am. But I’ve learned that there are many ways to speak so people will listen.”
Now, Monique dedicates herself to attending advocacy events and ensuring that parents have access to the resources they need to give their children the best possible start. Using the resilience that has served her through her own challenges, she continues to dedicate her time and effort to making the world a better place for young children and their families. To learn more and get involved with the Think Babies Michigan Coalition, visit the website.
Monique stated, “I will be the bridge that connects community to systems. We have to help fill the gaps of disparities that are needed to thrive in our society. “