Filtered Our Voices
Daniel Anello: As immigration enforcement intensifies, CPS needs to share real-time data to protect students
Originally published in Chicago Tribune on January 30, 2026
Opinion: CPS mustn't let enrollment declines shortchange the students it serves
Published originally in Crain's Chicago Business on January 21, 2026.
A Year at Kids First Chicago: What I’ve Learned from Listening to Chicago Families
My first year at Kids First Chicago has been a journey of listening, learning, and connection. Every conversation with parents, caregivers, and community members has deepened my belief that those closest to the challenges are best equipped to create the solutions.
Support Dr. King. Choose our Children, Not Politics.
A proud parent of a CPS student, Minijoie, witnesses firsthand the positive impact of well-supported schools and the challenges that arise when political decisions undermine that support. Read their perspective
Call for Honest Collaboration Between Teachers, Administrators, and Parents
CPS parent Blaire Flowers reflects on the CTU-CPS contract and calls for meaningful engagement with parents.
On Governor Pritzker’s Budget Address
Claiborne Wade, chair of Kids First Chicago's Equitable Funding task force, weighs in on Governor Pritzker's 2026 Budget Address.
On Black History
K1C CEO Daniel Anello reflects on what Black history means in America, recent progress and setbacks, and what gives him hope.
Turning 10 Years Old
Daniel Anello marks ten years at Kids First Chicago in January 2025. He reflects on our mission, the lessons we've learned, and the work that still lies ahead.
Why Illinois Must Fully Fund Education Now
Claiborne Wade, chair of Kids First Chicago’s Equitable Funding Task Force, CPS parent, and staff member at DePriest Elementary, presses the state board and state legislators to guarantee more adequate education funding in the FY2026 budget.
Katrina Adams Reacts to CPS Special Board Meeting and CEO Sacking, on Eve of Winter Break
Parent leader Katrina Adams reflects on what the special December 20 Board of Education meeting and the Board’s decision to fire CEO Martinez means about the city, the mayor, and who gets prioritized by politicians.
Statements from Kids First Chicago & Kids First Chicago Parent Advisory Board on Special CPS Board Meeting
Kids First Chicago and its Parent Advisory Board offer statements on the Board of Education's special session, called with just two days' notice on the brink of the CPS Winter Break.
Letter to Mayor Johnson: Parent Representation on the Chicago Board of Education Matters
Kids First Chicago and 200 signers call on the Mayor to use his remaining appointments to the Board of Education to balance out the representation of current CPS parents of color on the school board.