We train and support parents to be powerful leaders

You can help build on COFI's 15 years of success—your contribution helps ensure that:

Parents bring their real-life experience to the table. Whether it's leadership in a local school or a lobby day in Springfield, the authentic voice of parents changes the equation. We've learned through years of experience what it takes to build leadership and activism over time.

Parents are implementing innovative and effective solutions. COFI parents have developed front-line programs like the parent-to-parent Ambassadors for Head Start; school-based Peace Centers; and Walking Preschool Buses—model solutions that give children what they need to succeed.

Parents are partners in social change. Through COFI workshops, community partnerships, and a strategic intention to "share the learning," low-income parents are real partners with the organizations, public institutions, and agencies that see parent engagement as vital. COFI has worked with hundreds of people such as teachers, social workers, and advocates to inform their efforts to reach and involve grassroots families.

COFI offers a unique and in-depth leadership program. We have trained 3,000 low-income parents, most of them women of color. COFI teaches these mothers and grandmothers to tell their stories, find common ground, and articulate their goals. Parents learn how to build a deep web of support, both personal and in the community, and take action on the issues that can have such devastating consequences for their children and families.

Parents are organizing together. COFI parents get other parents involved. They build local teams and work on neighborhood and school issues. They work together in their own citywide organization, Parents Organized to Win, Educate, and Renew—Policy Action Council. POWER-PAC unites parentsacross race and community around issues of importance to families.

Parents are taking action. COFI parents are working to break what some call the cradle-to-prison pipeline, organizing parent-to-parent so that preschool is accessible to low-income families. They are changing harsh school discipline policies that have had such a negative impact, especially on children of color, with restorative justice methods that keep kids in school. They are moving state legislation to restore recess in elementary schools, and other efforts to keep children safe and healthy.

Parents are changing policies and programs. COFI parents are winning victories not just in their own neighborhoods, but system wide. Chicago Public Schools adopted restorative justice to replace counterproductive zero tolerance discipline policies. Illinois adopted our recommendations to make Preschool for All more effective. Chicago's Head Start program incorporates our parent-to-parent outreach model.

Make a contribution today! Thank you.