All children in Chicago deserve a quality education. To achieve that, every school should not be funded the same way. Providing resources for schools that need it the most is important to uplift my community and others like it.
I am an East Garfield Park mother with two high school students. My daughter is a rising junior at Westinghouse College Prep and my son is a rising sophomore at Urban Prep.
They attend quality schools, but I am concerned about other schools in my neighborhood that lack quality programs, such as a gifted center, counselors and so much more.
The West Side has many challenges, including a legacy of poverty and disinvestment. Providing funding to schools in neighborhoods that need it the most is a crucial step towards equity in Chicago.
Brenda Taylor, East Garfield Park
To read Brenda's Letter as published in the Chicago Sun-Times, click here.
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.