Letter From PAB Leaders to Mayor Brandon Johnson
Kids First Chicago’s Parent Advisory Board members reached out to the newly inaugurated Mayor Brandon Johnson, inviting him to collaborate with our community to ensure a high-quality education for all of Chicago's students.
Kids First Chicago’s Parent Advisory Board members reached out to the newly inaugurated Mayor Brandon Johnson, inviting him to collaborate with our community to ensure a high-quality education for all of Chicago's students.
We emphasized the importance of authentic parent engagement, centering the voices of those most impacted, and a CPS elected school board that is racially representative of CPS’s population and accessible to parents. We also advocated for full and adequate resources for public schools, creative use of under-utilized spaces, access to quality social-emotional learning, culturally-responsive programming, and free year-round CTA transportation for all CPS students.
From Fellow to Force: Tierra Pearson’s Journey to Parent Advocacy
Tierra Pearson’s journey through Kids First Chicago’s Parent Leadership Fellowship shows how parent leadership can spark lasting change. From inaugural fellow to West Side Community Engagement Coordinator, she reflects on finding her voice, building power, and helping other parents step confidently into advocacy for their children.
Rooted in Advocacy: Teresa’s Journey Through Parent Leadership Fellowship
Teresa’s Parent Leadership Fellowship journey is a story of growth, courage, and community. Through PLF, she found her voice as a parent leader, strengthened her advocacy for her children, and discovered the power of showing up—not just for her family, but for others too.
Parent Leader Reflection, José Quiles
José, a K1C parent champion, reflects on a lifetime of working with families, immigrants, and young people — finding that true fulfillment was never found in titles or recognition, but in the quiet, lasting transformation of those he served. Rooted in faith, his legacy lives on in every life that moved forward because someone chose to stop and help them rise.