Recent Successes

Englewood Early Learning Tent at Parade

Englewood parent leaders teamed with collaborative partners to convince the Chicago Public Schools Preschool for All program and the City of Chicago Department of Children and Youth Services Headstart program to staff an "Early Learning Tent" at the Englewood Back-To-School parade in August.  Over 50 children were signed up for preschool and headstart programs.

Austin Community Environmental Health Project

Austin-Wide Parent Network (AWPN) launched the Austin Community Environmental Health Project, with fifteen parents from five schools participating in school air health audit trainings by Illinois EPA and the Healthy Schools Campaign.  The project celebrated the completion of their air quality audits with a community event (on April 7th) where “Green Flags” were presented to the principals and administrators along with the parent leadership teams from each school.

Bike and Walk to School Rallies

Parent leaders from Howe and Mitchell Schools hosted Bike and Walk to school rallies each of the past two Octobers to focus on children’s health and build support for returning recess to Chicago Public Schools.

Austin Peace Center

Austin-Wide Parent Network created and designed the school-based Austin Peace Center that engages parent leaders as “peacemakers” in helping children in trouble resolve conflicts that threaten to lead to school expulsion or arrest. This past year the group won a grant from the City of Chicago and from the Methodist Church to support their work. They also were in the 2008 state budget for $20,000 until that line was vetoed by the Governor.