K1C Staff Dispatch from DC

During the week of June 9, three members of the Kids First Chicago team—Daisy Carrera, Kendall Moore-Fields, and Jasmin Pizano Luna—traveled to Washington, D.C. to join a national mobilization led by the National Parents Union (NPU). Alongside more than 30 parents, educators, organizers, and advocates from across the country, they spoke to senators to urge them to vote against a proposed federal budget bill that could have devastating consequences for working families across the country.

If passed, the bill would:

• Strip millions of families of access to healthcare and food assistance programs

• Cut take-home pay for hardworking families

• Provide massive tax breaks to households earning over $388,000

• Deepen inequality by prioritizing the wealthy over everyday Americans

The trip also raised serious concerns about the current state of the U.S. Department of Education, where nearly half of the staff, including many civil rights attorneys, have been dismissed, leaving critical complaints unresolved and families without recourse. The executive branch’s attempt to reduce and alter the function of the department without congressional approval — as Congress has the constitutional authority to eliminate or defund the Dept. of Education — has been met with judicial scrutiny. It is our hope that Congress regains control as the decision makers and safeguards the major federal programs (Title I funding, student loans, special education) and the role of the department in civil rights investigations.

Below, Daisy, Kendall, and Jasmin reflect on what they witnessed and why this moment calls for urgent action.

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National Parents Union (NPU) organized the opportunity for us to speak with elected officials, sharing our experience in working with the thousands of Chicago families that this bill would negatively impact.

NPU presented items, data points, and new bi-partisan polling results around the so-called “big beautiful bill" and how it would impact families across the country. We spent a full day in the U.S. Senate building and had the opportunity to meet with the staffers of Senator Jon Husted (OH), Senator Ruben Gallego (AZ), Senator Jim Banks (IN), and our veteran Senator Dick Durbin (IL).

We were able to highlight how 16 million people would be affected by Medicaid cuts, including 70% of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students who are covered by Medicaid. It was important for us to stress the connection between Medicaid cuts and negative educational impacts as a bipartisan parent and family issue that would impact city and rural populations. We emphasized that Medicaid is the fourth-largest source of federal funding for public education. These resources are vital when it comes to serving a diverse population of people across our city and the U.S. Cutting funding for resources such as these is threatening, dehumanizing, inequitable and dangerous.

This time in Washington allowed for deep reflection for us on what it meant to be in those meeting rooms at the Capitol where spaces were made accessible to us because of the generations who came before and fought for equitable education and healthcare. We witnessed firsthand the power of personal stories and how these narratives can move policy and people. It became clear that families across the country will be negatively impacted by these proposed cuts. Not only have critical jobs been removed for these important positions, but proposed changes to Medicaid eligibility threaten the health and well-being of students and families nationwide.

While there are Senators who support and fight for these important resources, it was impactful to share real stories, in real time, with those who may not have understood or shared this perspective. As public servers in offices, it can be easy to get disconnected from communities, especially communities with less socioeconomic and political access. Making explicit connections between the bill’s proposals and their real-life impact can be transformative -it humanizes the issues and serves as a powerful reminder that we, as constituents, are paying attention and will remember how our representatives choose to act.

Other topics that were shared during these meetings were threats to changing Pell Grant requirements, investments in HBCUs and the fight to continue funding education research. The "big beautiful bill" is an expansive 1,000-page document that threatens the very existence of those impacted, but, we proudly served as a reminder that dignity and humanity must come first.

This past week served as a reminder of why we do the work we do with Kids First Chicago and in Washington D.C. Although the work is real and raw, there are always moments to celebrate progress and wins, such as seeing U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at the Senate Office Building on our way to lunch in the hallway. It was a reminder again, of many who have come before us who push the agenda for people and not greed.

This was a week to remember as we left and shared all we could during our time there. We are grateful for the experience, growth and all those we learned from during this time and who sparked more inspiration to do this work- people work. It was amazing to see so many passionate parents fight for the safety of their children and families. Families are at the forefront of all change, as we carry generational power from those before us, the children present and those to come!

In Solidarity,
Daisy, Kendall, and Jasmin