Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)

?? NEW: COFI and POWER-PAC IL are pleased to share our report: “Shining a Light: How Parent-Led Solutions Can Heal Our Communities and Address Trauma" It features FIVE parent-led recommendations about improving our mental health system and shows what's working and not working for Illinois families. Get your copy now:?https://lnkd.in/gd6uV5gu

Thank you to the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation for awarding COFI as its Advocate of the Year!! Kane County parent leaders were recognized for their parent-led campaign work around improving the mental health system and their project at the Parent Power Center, demonstrating the power of peer-to-peer mental health support. COFI parent leaders Liliana, Zor, Marisol, and Senior Organizer Sara had a great time at the ILLCF's 3rd Annual Gala, and we appreciate State Senator Karina Villa for the invitation and her support of COFI parent leaders!

COFI parent leaders are working on issues that matter most to families, including economic security, early learning, and mental health. Join us in building a grassroots movement of parent leaders and apply to be a COFI Organizer! We're hiring a Bilingual Parent/Community Organizer based in Kane County (Aurora and Elgin) – 50 miles west of Chicago. Learn more and apply today! https://lnkd.in/ggq_yGbC

We want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of?Barbara?Bowman, the founding mother of "Early Childhood Education," who passed away this month. She was a crucial partner in COFI's emerging early learning work in 2007-2009, including funding our Walking Preschool Bus program work with Chicago Public Schools, a program where COFI parents walked children to and from preschool to support families to overcome transportation barriers to preschool. She was also a co-founder of the Erikson Institute, a member of the Illinois Governor's Early Learning Council for years, and advised President Barack Obama on Early Learning when he first took office. She will be missed, and we thank her for her tireless advocacy and commitment to early learning initiatives. https://lnkd.in/gPF6rrnA

Thank you to CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) for an amazing week at this year’s #SELExchange. So honored to present Chicago Public Schools' new Whole School Safety Policy.??Joined by Karen Lynn Morton from Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), and two amazing young people – Romya Simone Tanksley from Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE) and Dawone Davis from Mikva Challenge – our panel shared our journey of collaboration to promote school safety in the form of three pillars – physical safety, emotional safety and relational trust. It’s all about relationships! Extra bonus – ran into forever-CPS former colleagues, Prince William County Superintendent LaTanya D. McDade, Ed.D., Justina Schlund and Herald Chip Johnson, Jr., Ed.D, Jessica Marshall, PhD and several others!! Finally, thank you to all of our Whole School Safety SteerCo Partners and also my CPS colleagues from the Office of Safety and Security and Office of Social and Emotional Learning for being there.??I learn so much from all of you!!

What’s?at stake nationally and locally in next week's election? Health coverage for noncitizens! COFI Parent Leaders Maria Sanchez and Gaby Piceno spoke to KFF Health News about how?Illinois’?expanded health coverage has been life-changing.?That’s?why COFI and POWER-PAC IL are fighting to reopen?Illinois'?HBIA/HBIS (Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors) applications, remove HBIA/HBIS copays, and expand Medicaid coverage to immigrants ages 19-41. “With my medical card, I have peace of mind,”?Sanchez said. https://lnkd.in/gCFdH-qz

We had an incredible four days with these COFI Center trainees!! Congrats to all the COFI Center for Action and Learning participants who completed Orientation and Phase 1: Self, Family & Team + Team Building training! They learned "The COFI Way" model and how to use it for parent leadership development, and they gained firsthand experience with our model. Shout out to La Rabida Children's Hospital, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hispanic American Community Education and Services - HACES ? , Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart, United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN), Mujeres Latinas en Acción, WISD Success By 6 GSC, and Bürgerhaus am Schlaatz (from Germany) for joining us! Check out our upcoming COFI Center trainings here: cofionline.org/events/

“This is a moment in history that we should not squander. We should be just as concerned about the school board election as we are about the presidential election, because this is going to hit closer to home faster,” Parent Leader Lynn Morton said at COFI and POWER-PAC IL's Meet & Greet Forum with the Chicago School Board Candidates. Thank you to the?Austin Weekly News for joining us and covering what's at stake for Chicago families in?District?5. https://lnkd.in/g5ZPAiHV

Thank you to everyone and all the candidates who joined us for our #DSCWoA2024 event with the Chicago School Board Candidates from Districts 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10! This Week of Action Against School Pushout focuses on a nationwide call for schools to move away from punitive and criminalizing policies and toward emotionally-safe, restorative, and culturally responsive school communities. We appreciate all the candidates for answering questions and engaging with COFI and POWER-PAC IL parent leaders. Are you interested in learning more about the Chicago school board candidates? Check out the voter guide from WBEZ Chicago, Chalkbeat Chicago, and the Chicago Sun-Times here: https://lnkd.in/epggUiAg

This Thursday, Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) will host a Meet & Greet at 10 am with CPS School Board candidates from Districts 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10! Join to learn about the first-ever CPS school board election and get to know the candidates. The Meet & Greet will be at SEIU, 2229 S. Halsted. Register now at https://lnkd.in/gsXMQ9pi.