Parent Leadership Fellowship

Parents commit to monthly training sessions as well as other programmatic activities, such as community outings, solidarity circles, and campaign actions. We compensate parents and provide childcare and meals for in-person sessions, which run from September to June. In early summer, we celebrate the fellows with a retreat and graduation. Through continued cohort and alumni engagement, parents benefit from a continuum of networking and collaborative opportunities to amplify their voices in advocacy for education equity. In solidarity, parent fellows advocate across segregated lines for an equitable, high-quality public education for all kids in Chicago, with a focus on the city’s Black and Latine communities.

The Parent Leadership Fellowship (PLF) is Kid's First Chicago's (K1C) investment in parents as the true agents of change for education equity. Our 2024-2025 Cohort consists of 20+ Black and Latine parent leaders of public education students in South Side communities with a focus on Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Chatham, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, and Woodlawn.

We seek parents who:

• Would benefit from the Fellowship’s informal and intentional networking and bonding experiences;

• Desire to learn about topics such as the history of public education, organizing principles, collective action, and community governance; and

• Are passionate about influencing change in their communities.

The fellowship is an opportunity to be part of a growing collective network of powerful parent leaders from across the city who advocate and organize to effect change in public education locally and citywide to ensure all our kids have a high-quality education.

For more information regarding the Parent Leadership Fellowship, please contact Teresa Maldonado at tmaldonado@kidsfirstchicago.org and/or Victory Nwabufo at vnwabufo@kidsfirstchicago.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

I do not have children/my children are no longer attending Chicago Public Schools. Am I allowed to be nominated for PLF?

PLF is open to parents and caretakers of children who attend CPS schools (this includes charter schools). If you do not fall into one of these identifying categories, you cannot be nominated for PLF. However, Kids First Chicago provides countless other ways for you to stay active in your community.

How many PLF sessions am I allowed to miss?

While we strongly encourage attendance at every session, fellows are allowed to miss one session per 3 month module. Fellows are required to meet with us for a 90-minute makeup session to catch up on key content missed.

Where will PLF sessions be held?

PLF sessions are held in the region where the cohort is currently based. For instance, South Side cohort sessions will be held on the South Side of Chicago. Locations may vary for each session depending on the activities planned (i.e., one session may be at a community center, while the next may be at a local library).

How much is the PLF stipend?

Fellows receive a stipend of $1200, disbursed in three $400 installments.

Can I bring my children to our PLF sessions?

Childcare is always provided at our in-person monthly sessions.