A collage of 21 photos of Black and Brown parent leaders and their advocacy work over 30 years - 30th anniversary

30 Years of Turning Dreams Into Action!

For 30 years, Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) has proven that when Black and Brown parents, especially mothers and grandmothers, have real power and support, they are able to turn their dreams into action!

Our theme captures COFI’s core belief: When parents come together, their collective power transforms their dreams into reality to make our communities, our state, and our nation a better place for all.

From personal triumphs to major policy victories, COFI’s parent-led organizing model, The COFI Way, has trained thousands of parents and helped transform communities and entire systems. Our 30th Anniversary celebrates three decades of parent power and the next generation of change we’re building together, and we hope you join us!

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026

Time: 5:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. (with doors opening at 5:00 P.M.)

Location: Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60624)

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

Thank you to our 30th Anniversary Sponsors!

Parent-led action is powered by the generosity of donors and sponsors who believe real community voices deserve a seat at policy tables. Together, we envision a world where racial, economic, and educational justice prevail, and all children and families have an equal opportunity to succeed in life. Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Click here or scroll down to get involved.

COFI Action Takers

Providence Bank & Trust logo
COFI Friends
Corky's catering logo with a fork; woodstock institute logo

30 Stories for 30 Years

Since 1995, COFI’s family-focused organizing model, The COFI Way, has trained thousands of parents to be powerful leaders. We’ve heard incredible stories about the impact of COFI and our training on individuals, families, communities, and policies and systems. We aim to highlight a few of those stories throughout our anniversary year. Check back here for updates! 

A Hispanic mother and her two children

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
A Black woman smiling and wearing a striped shirt

Gloria

“We don’t stop until we figure it out.”

Gloria says she wouldn’t be the leader she is now without COFI
A Hispanic grandmother

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

Help Us Celebrate and Fuel Parent Power for Another 30 Years!

Become a sponsor

Become an event sponsor today and help underwrite tickets for COFI-trained parents and their children! Your sponsorship will be recognized on this website, our social media pages, and in our email newsletters. Join us in building a world where racial, economic, and educational justice prevail, and all children and families have an equal opportunity to succeed in life.

Donate

Please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to sustain our work today. COFI is a grassroots nonprofit and every gift helps develop parent leaders who are taking action and winning critical victories for families. 

Purchase an event ticket

We’d love to celebrate in person with you on June 4, 2026! Registration is now open.

en_USEnglish