30 Stories for 30 Years
Leading up to our 30th Anniversary Celebration on June 4, 2026, we’ll share 30 powerful stories of how COFI and The COFI Way model have impacted individuals, families, local communities, and policies and systems in Illinois and beyond.
Impact on the Individual
These stories highlight the impact of COFI trainings on individual parents as well as individuals who have taken trainings at The COFI Center for Action and Learning.
Nelly
“Being a mother doesn’t come with a manual, but COFI is like a manual, and they help you grow and lead.”
How Nelly embraced her leadership with COFI
Gloria
“We don’t stop until we figure it out.”
Gloria says she wouldn’t be the leader she is now without COFI
Doña Mari
“We will triumph and succeed in what we are asking for when we organize together.”
How one mother paved her own path with COFI
Talibah
“I didn’t want to stop.”
After completing the three phases of COFI training, Talibah kept asking: What’s next?
Leah
“This is how things work when parent voices are at the table.”
Meet Leah, a longtime partner and supporter of COFI
Building Parent Power Beyond Illinois
With the COFI Center for Action and Learning and with partners across the country, including those in UPLAN, COFI is catalyzing a national parent-led movement for economic and racial justice. These stories highlight how organizations outside of Illinois are using The COFI Way to build parent power.
Fredericka, Urban Core Collective
“What I love about The COFI Way model is that it’s people-centered… it’s about the parents digging into themselves and finding transformative pieces.”
Building Parent Power in Kent County (Michigan)
Arthur, Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP)
“This model is an opportunity for organizations to live into the values that so many nonprofits and community groups talk about, wanting to listen and partner with communities.”
Building a National Network Where Parents Truly Lead
Larry and Carmen, The Children’s Agenda
“You can’t have policy changes on the issues without having the people directly experiencing those issues leading the change, and that’s what COFI understands.”
Building Parent Power in New York
Camarrah, Max & Marjorie Fisher Foundation
“If you really want to do this work, listen to parents and honor what it takes for them to show up in the room.”
Building Parent Power in Detroit
Ms. Rose
“The success of our 30 years comes from the voice of parents, who really are the experts in navigating life’s challenges and deserve respect.”
Building Parent Power “Worldwide”
Strengthening My Family
Through our trainings, parents become stronger leaders in their families. Parents support one another in gaining skills and confidence as family leaders, and also learn to set goals with their family members. These stories highlight how COFI has impacted parents and their children.
Jennifer, A Champion for COFI Families
“COFI incorporates families and family goals within the model. And that’s really important, because people are complex, and families are part of organizing.”
Isaiah
“COFI has helped me reach my dream of being a better parent. And now, my dream is to be a better provider for my family and help inform my community.”
Marisol
“My main focus when I came to COFI was to have my family more united.”
Katrina
“We are always out here advocating. It’s not just about advocating for one family, but all of them.”
Delia
“My children remember me telling them when they started school that I would always fight for them no matter what.”
Local Organizing
COFI-trained parents work together to create change. To make their community more family friendly, parent leaders meet with neighbors, find common ground, develop new programs, organize community-wide campaigns, and realize the power of a collective voices. These stories spotlight parent power in each branch of POWER-PAC IL.
Sherita
“There’s a leader in all of us. Sometimes it takes unity to remind us how powerful we truly are.”
A Spotlight on Parent Power on the Westside of Chicago
Letty
“When I see someone struggling, it’s my instinct to help them and do better.”
A Spotlight on Parent Power on the Northwest Side of Chicago
Cye Cye
“Each month, I know I can show up to the Southside branch meetings, have my voice heard, and work together with other parents and caregivers toward our collective goals.”
A Spotlight on Parent Power on the Southside of Chicago
Esmeralda
“The Southwest Branch had great leaders with a lot of knowledge and we’re fighting for great policies.”
A Spotlight on Parent Power on the Southwest Side of Chicago
Liliana
“Once you taste victory, you keep asking what’s next. That’s how the Aurora branch is. We’re very active and always moving.”
A Spotlight on Parent Power in Aurora
Lettie
“When Parents United for Change formed, we made winning transportation in the district a priority, and we did it. We’re proof that parents can turn their dreams into action.”
A Spotlight on Parent Power in East St. Louis
Silvia
“In Elgin, we help parents grow their leadership. Like COFI, we accompany them and keep helping them grow.”
A Spotlight on Parent Power in Elgin
Arisbeth
“At COFI, we focus on specific issues so that the action steps are achievable and concrete.”
A Spotlight on Parent Power in Evanston
Changing Policy & Systems in Illinois
COFI-trained parents create a cross-community policy agenda that starts with common concerns raised by parents, such as childcare, safety, or school quality. Together, parent leaders organize to communicate their ideas and concerns to public decision-makers. These stories will highlight POWER-PAC IL’s collective dreams and wins.
Yolanda
“Early Intervention and other early childhood programs are key to a child’s development. It helped my daughter and it should be accessible to all without any financial barriers.”
A Spotlight on The Early Learning Campaign
Lynn
“Parents in this campaign knew that harsh discipline and punitive punishments in schools weren’t right. We didn’t back down even when others did.”
A Spotlight on The Elementary Justice Campaign
Susana
“Health is something that affects all of us – especially now as we see cuts to Medicaid and people are losing access to critical care.”
A Spotlight on The Mental Health Justice and Equity Committee
Rosalva
“This campaign is doing what it was founded to do: help mothers and families get out of poverty. That’s a dream come true.”
A Spotlight on The Stepping Out of Poverty Campaign
Michelle
“Our voices need to be heard because you can’t tell my story like I can. I bring lived experiences. That’s why we go to Springfield and speak directly to the policymakers so the actual voices of our communities can be heard.”
A Spotlight on Moms on a Mission and Statewide Advocacy
Dreaming Forward
Reflections and visions for the next 30 years of parent power!
Chanelle
“COFI parent leaders have been working every day to push for policies that reflect our shared vision of an equitable and better world for our children and families. We won’t stop organizing and advocating until it happens.”
English 
Spanish