PEI Announces New Co-Director

Written By Danielle Campbell

ANNOUNCING NEW LEADERSHIP MODEL AT PEI

PEI Welcomes Adriana Velázquez of SWOP as New Co-Director, Partnering with Palenque LSNA’s Bridget Murphy

Dear Parent Mentor Family,

Welcome, and welcome back to a new school year! Let’s recognize the 300+ unstoppable Parent Mentor coordinators and organizers who are in our schools and out pounding the pavement this month to recruit and onboard the 30th Class of Parent Mentors! (Yes, you heard that right—we are kicking off the 30th Year of the Parent Mentor Program!)

We are excited to announce that the Parent Engagement Institute has transitioned to a co-director leadership model, and we are thrilled to (re)introduce Adriana Velázquez in her new role as Co-Director of the Parent Engagement Institute.

Adriana Velázquez arrives at the co-director role deeply steeped in PEI experience and values. For the last 12 years, she has walked in the shoes of Parent Mentor Coordinator, Parent Mentor Organizer, and most recently as Program Support Manager at the Parent Engagement Institute. Adriana is a seasoned community organizer and a proud Back of the Yards resident. She has honed her organizing skills for over a decade, connecting the Parent Mentor Program and her many skills and talents to parent leadership development and immigrant justice.

Learn more about Adriana’s story and feel her energy in this engaging interview with her fellow PEI Co-Director, Bridget Murphy. Dive into the full conversation by flipping through the interview in our Issuu feature!

Whether it’s your first year or your 30th year with the Parent Mentor Program, or whether you are starting a career in education or learning about historic school board elections, we know it is going to be a school year to remember!

Grateful to be in this work with you,

The PEI Team

VIDEO PREMIERE

Watch the Premiere of PEI's 2024 Video Showcasing Powerful Parents, Organizers, Educators Behind Ladders of Opportunity Paraprofessional Pathway Program

The Ladders of Opportunity Paraprofessional Pathway Program provides a route for Parent Mentors to advance their roles in schools and pursue careers in education. The video highlights how this program empowers parents to build on their existing involvement in the classroom, offering opportunities to become paraprofessionals through training and mentorship. Featuring interviews with former Parent Mentors and insights from community organizers and school administrators, the video showcases the transformative impact of the program.

Through this initiative, parents gain paraprofessional credentials, allowing them to offer more personalized support to students, and in turn, strengthening school communities. The video underscores the deep connection between empowered parents and successful students, illustrating how Ladders of Opportunity creates a pipeline for career development while fostering strong parent engagement.

Community organizers and educators also advocate for the program's continuation and expansion, emphasizing its potential to address staffing needs by investing in the talents and dedication of local community members. The initiative exemplifies the power of nurturing local talent to fill critical educational roles, proving that when you invest in the community, everyone benefits.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the dedicated individuals who contributed to this project:  

  • Perkins Bass Elementary School: Ms. Carolyn Jones, Ms. White, and Ovanni Vaughn  

  • Teamwork Englewood: Sabrina Jackson  

  • Marvin Camras Elementary School: Clariza Dominici and Filiberto Leyva  

  • Northwest Center: Veronica Tabares

Click the button below to watch the video and experience the impact firsthand!

ORGANIZING OUR DREAM SCHOOLS

The Force is Strong
with PEICC: Parent Engagement Institute Chicago Coalition Takes Off!

Who are PEICC?

We are on a mission to make sure our communities are actively engaged in Chicago’s first school board elections. PEICC is a coalition of Parent Mentor community organizations representing Chicago’s largest network of neighborhood school parents.

In the Parent Mentor Program, we roll up our sleeves every day to volunteer in classrooms, filling equity gaps by giving love and attention to our students while we work together towards our dream schools and communities.

It is time for our schools and communities to help co-create the future of public education in our city.

If we plant the seeds of love, healing, and knowledge, we will see them blossom and grow our communities together!  

KICKING OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR

Celebrating Learning and Connection: A Recap of Our Orientation, Train-the-Trainer, and Annual Kick-Off Events!

In August and September, we launched our annual series of events to kick off the new school year and strengthen the Parent Mentor Program. Our Orientation provided coordinators and organizers with essential training on policies, procedures, and the program’s vision. Following that, Train-the-Trainer 101 offered participants hands-on experience in facilitating the PMP curriculum, focusing on relationship building and growth. Finally, the Annual Kick-Off Celebration brought everyone together in person to celebrate, reconnect, and energize our community for the year ahead. See photos from our kick-off event below.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

List of Upcoming Fall Events

  • Wednesday, October 9: Classroom Orientation

  • Wednesday, October 16: Quality Questions

  • Wednesday, October 23: Reading to Rise Up

  • Wednesday, October 30: Safe Space

  • Wednesday, November 6: Social Emotional Support

  • Wednesday, November 13: Disability Learning

  • Wednesday, November 20: Organizing 101 Pt. I

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.

Danielle Campbell
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The Force is Strong with PEICC: Parent Engagement Institute Chicago Coalition Takes Off!