Parents commit to monthly training sessions as well as other programmatic activities, such as community outings, racial healing 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.
In 2023-2024, we are bringing parents together from the Northwest Side communities of Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square to join the fellowship and K1C’s powerful parent leaders in making a difference for our kids’ education and future.
Nominations for our 2023-2024 PLF cohort have closed. Please visit back in the spring for more about our 2024-2025 applications.
For more information regarding the Parent Leadership Fellowship, please contact Nayda De La Rosa at ndelarosa@kidsfirstchicago.org and/or Daisy Carrera at dcarrera@kidsfirstchicago.org.
Participating in PLF will not only give you knowledge, but will also provide you with the resources and support required to be a successful parent in your community.
—Brenda Rivera, PLF Alum, Inter-American, Humboldt Park
Our 2022-2023 alumni included parent leaders from Chicago’s Southwest Side neighborhoods, including Little Village, Pilsen, Brighton Park, Back of the Yards, and Gage Park. As a cohort, these parent leaders are advocating for holistic social-emotional learning in Chicago schools. Congratulations to our class of 2023!
Ofelia Carmona
Gage Park
Martha Cruz
Back of the Yards
Esmeralda De La Rosa
Pilsen
Maria Eira Guevara
Brighton Park
Jasmin Lopez
Gage Park
Consuelo Martinez
Back of the Yards
Celina Molina
Little Village
Lucero Montero
Back of the Yards
Alejandra Mora
Little Village
Maria Ochoa
Back of the Yards
Ricarda Pedraza
Brighton Park
Crystal Ramirez
Back of the Yards
Deglys Rodriguez
Little Village
Alma Silva Sigala
Back of the Yards
Viridiana Soriano
Little Village
Carmen Yadira Trinidad de la Cruz
Brighton Park
Jaqueline Vargas
Gage Park
Lorena Vega
Back of the Yards
Carolina Velarde
Back of the Yards
The inaugural PLF cohort includes 15 parents from across Chicago’s West Side.
Audrianna Cannon
Muchin College Prep
Homan Square
Christopher Fayne
North Lawndale HS, Plato Elementary
Austin
Blaire Flowers
North Lawndale HS, Plato Elementary
Austin
Taschaunda Hall
Austin
Jamica Holliness
KIPP, Carole Robertson Center for Learning
North Lawndale
Cornetta Hopkins
Tilton Elementary
North Lawndale
Karonda Locust
Uplift Community HS, Cather Elementary
Austin
Teresa Maldonado
Erie Charter School
Humboldt Park
Tierra Pearson
Clemente HS, DePreist Elementary
Humboldt Park
Brenda Rivera
Inter-American Magnet School
Humboldt Park
Dominique Smith
KIPP Academy Chicago Primary
Garfield Park
April Smith
Catalyst Circle Rock, Crown Elementary
Austin/North Lawndale
Being a PLF Alumna has opened up so many doors and opportunities that I had only dreamed of. It gave me a vision, purpose, and voice. We as parents of color stand in solidarity with one another and nothing will stop the work we set out to do.
—April Smith, PLF Alumna '22