Lilia Guevara responds to the news about Acero's school closures
Acero Parent and Kids First Chicago Parent Advisory Board member Lilia Guevara expresses her feelings about the sudden news about Acero school closures, planned for June 2025.
Knowing the decision to close seven Acero schools,
Hearing the board of directors vote aye, felt so cruel.
That, according to the administration, it's hard to pay for utilities and rent.
Disbelief, sadness, and shock I felt.
CPS facing financial hardship and Acero too!
It breaks my heart and makes me feel blue.
It makes me wonder if the financial department
Has been audited, supervised, or monitored.
Teachers lose a job they love, children are displaced.
Is this the price our future generations have to pay?
I wish I could do something about it.
I wish for our authorities to do something about it.
I feel that since the 1968 walkout movement until now,
The Hispanic community has been let down.
All I can do is to pray,
Hoping quality education is not a dream
But a right that all children can have every day.
Hoping quality education is not a dream / But a right that all children can have every day.
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.