PUCC s success has interested organizations and communities from around the country in their model for engaging and mobilizing parents. While PUCC s leaders are willing to share knowledge they have gained through experience, they emphasize that organizing is local work, and requires locally developed strategies. PUCC continues to expand their membership in the Boston area, and establish a strong presence in their new chapter areas, north and south of Boston. Lessons Learned Attempts to engage parents need to be substantive. Efforts to engage parents are often marginal one or two parents sit on a governance entity and are expected to speak for all parents affected by the organization.
Parents are much more comfortable and effective when they are in a leadership position.
In the case of Parents United, the Board of Directors is comprised of parents elected from the membership . Parent leadership efforts are more effective when they are issue driven. Engaging parents and providing leadership training is important, but it needs to be attached to an issue. Leadership for the sake of leadership is not effective in engaging busy parents. Parents are more willing to invest their time and resources in leadership training if the focus is on making progress toward specific priorities.