A Note From Your PEI Team

“Building Lines of Solidarity” was the creed that Tami Love urged us to live by. Tami was a member of the very first parent mentor cohort at Funston Elementary in 1995, and she went on to become a legendary housing organizer and builder of the Parent Engagement Institute until her passing two years ago, in February 2021.

When Tami joined the Parent Mentor Program, she was the only Black parent in her otherwise Latina cohort. She spent the next 26 years learning Spanish, becoming an expert on arroz con gandules and carne asada, and learning about the immigration issues that weighed heavily on her friends.

Today–because of organizers like Tami Love who traveled the state with a vision of solidarity–the Parent Mentor Program is in 45 communities across Illinois. Our school communities are 47% Latino, 35% Black, 11% White, and 4% Asian.

We take seriously Tami’s call to build lines of solidarity across and within our communities. We believe that building lines of solidarity begins with learning the histories we’ve never been taught, especially Black history.

Every Wednesday, over 1,100 parents join our multilingual townhall-style professional development workshops where we invite each other to open our mics and we call on each other to listen deeply. We want to say thank you to all of the presenters who not only teach us our histories, but also cultivate a brave space for us to connect the past to the present. Most of all, we want to say thank you to all the parent mentors who step out of their comfort zone in order to share and to act. See you soon.

In solidarity,
The Parent Engagement Institute Team

MONTHLY PHOTO ROUND UP

GOVERNOR’S STAFF VISITS PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM

Parent Mentors, Palenque LSNA Welcome Deputy Governor for Education at McAuliffe Elementary

Last week, Deputy Governor for Education Martin Torres and First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education Teresa Ramos visited McAuliffe Elementary School and Palenque LSNA to see the Parent Mentor Program in action.

During their visit, McAuliffe Elementary Parent Mentors, educators, and staff shared stories and discussed their work with the Governor's team. A day like this reminds us that our statewide parent mentor initiative is not only unique to Illinois (for now!), but one of the most valuable aspects of our state. Thank you to our Parent Mentors, McAuliffe Elementary, and the Governor’s staff!

LADDERS OF OPPORTUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Above (from left to right or top to bottom): Photo of Karla Mendez, Photo of Karla Mendez with her family.

Congrats to Karla Mendez on Receiving Your Substitute License!

"As an immigrant, I saw my dream of studying and at least having a small career as something impossible, but dreams come true when you go after them. The fear of everything helps me and pushes me to want to continue learning more, because whenever I am afraid I think, ‘What am I going to feel after overcoming this fear?’ And here the answer: I feel satisfaction for the things I've done after conquering my fear." — Karla G. Mendez

Born in Aguascalientes, México, Karla G. Mendez has lived in Chicago for 17 years and is a mother to two beautiful and intelligent girls. She was a Parent Mentor and later a Parent Coordinator at Hurley Elementary in Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood.

Through the Parent Mentor Program, Karla discovered her passion for teaching children. After seeing the great need for more teachers in her school, Karla was inspired to get her substitute license to make an even bigger impact. She currently holds an Associate’s Degree and is planning on earning a Bachelor's Degree so she can apply for a permanent substitute license.

From all of us at the Parent Engagement Institute, congratulations Karla!

DISABILITY JUSTICE

Parents Complete Parent Advocacy Leadership Training on Disability Justice

Last month, we kicked off our Disability Justice Cohort for the second year in a row in partnership with the Family Resource Center on Disabilities.

Our amazing parents completed two weeks of Parent Advocacy Leadership Training, which covered the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), IEP and 504 plans, components of evaluations, and so much more! These workshops equip our parents with tools to ensure their children’s needs are met, inside and beyond the classroom.

WINTER/SPRING WORKSHOPS

Upcoming Workshop Schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 22: Black History Workshop
Wednesday, March 1: Women’s Rights Movements
Wednesday, March 15: Beyond the Classroom Series - Organizing Tools #4
Wednesday, March 22: TIPTOP - Quality Questions
Wednesday, March 29: TIPTOP - Effective Feedback

All workshops take place on Zoom and are offered at two times:

• 11:30 am - 1:00 pm: English, Spanish, Mandarin or Arabic

• 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm: English or Spanish.