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 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.

Congrats to the parent leaders and staff from EC-LINC communities on their new?Manifesto for Race Equity & Parent Leadership in Early Childhood Systems! It reveals their vision of building parent leadership for families with young children. It also mentions how COFI training helped a group of parents build a powerful team and amplify their concerns. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gQWb4ezM

Babies can't wait! Young children and their families have been on waitlists for critical early intervention (EI) services and aren't getting the essential support they need to thrive. We're partnering with parents, providers, and advocates in Aurora on Oct. 29 to discuss EI and build support for increased EI funding in the Illinois FY26 state budget. Join COFI, POWER-PAC IL, Raising Illinois, Fox Valley United Way, and SPARK Aurora Early Childhood Collaboration at the Prisco Community Center at 11 a.m. Email [email protected] to RSVP.

COFI parent leaders Donna, Dede, Liliana, and Rosazlia had a great time at the Prosperity Now Summit, which focused on how we can expand economic opportunities for all! Rosazlia and Liliana led a powerful workshop on our recent victories, like the passage of the Illinois child tax credit, and discussed our "We're Glad You Asked!" guide that shows how people in government, schools, foundations, and advocacy groups can create alliances with parent leaders.