Later they may team with other parents. Parent leaders from local action teams who are interested in wider systems change have organized a cross-neighborhoods Parent Policy Committee to learn about the policy change process, identify priority issues and develop strategies to win these issues. Policy Committee members learn about the legislative process, how to approach elected and appointed officials, public school finance, the structure of various large public bureaucracies, and other policy making basics through formal training and less formal dialogues with policy makers and advocates. Currently, the focus is on increasing public funding support for community schools - schools that partner fully with community organizations and leaders. COFI s work validates our 3 core beliefs.
Parents are an untapped source of community leadership.
Over 100 parent leaders have won local school council positions and 30 leaders sit on Boards of Directors of local community organizations or community collaborations. Community leadership visions are focused on families. Although COFI parent leaders are not disinterested in housing, economic development, public safety, the environment, and other common agendas of organizing, their lists of community priorities also include family supports, the need for programs and activities for children after school, job and educational opportunities for parents, the quality of their children s schools, and safe passage for children to and from school. The lens of their vision is squarely focused on the family. Parent-leaders will find common ground across divisions and will build constituencies for systems change.