City of Chicago Archives

Celebrating 30 Years of Turning Dreams into Action!

For 30 years, COFI has proven that when Black and Brown parents, especially mothers and grandmothers, have real power and support, they can turn their dreams into action! Click here to join us on June 4, 2026, to celebrate COFI’s 30th anniversary, explore sponsorship opportunities, read parent stories, and learn how you can support parent leaders.

POWER-PAC IL Leaders Successfully Advocate Around the Chicago Budget!

by Darius Vinesar | Feb 12, 2026 | City of Chicago, Mental Health Justice & Equity, POWER-PAC IL

For months leading up to the vote on the now-approved $16.6B Chicago Budget, POWER-PAC IL parent leaders advocated hard for the things parents want to see funded and supported. Parent leaders met with their alderpeople, participated in town hall meetings, and...

COFI Parent Leaders Persist in 2024-2025!

by Jacqui Guillen | Jun 30, 2025 | City of Chicago, East St. Louis, Kane County, Local Victories

It’s been an exciting and challenging program year! Every year, COFI works with parent teams across Chicago neighborhoods and Illinois communities to organize and take action within their own local schools and communities. Parents make it look easy, but the truth is,...

Parent Leaders Host Meet and Greet with Chicago School Board Candidates

by Darius Vinesar | Oct 25, 2024 | City of Chicago, Elementary Justice

On October 24, COFI-trained parent leaders organized a meet and greet informational event with candidates for Chicago’s first elected School Board. Parent leader Lynn Morton was one of the parents who planned and led the event, impressing the importance of the...

COFI Board Co-Chair Rosazlia Grillier Speaks Up Against Chicago Overnight Winter Parking Ban

by Jacqui Guillen | Dec 1, 2023 | City of Chicago, In the Media, Stepping Out of Poverty

COFI Board Co-Chair and UPLAN Governing Council member Rosazlia Grillier (Ms. Rose) spoke against Chicago’s overnight winter parking ban and how it financially burdens residents to CBS Chicago. See the excerpt here: “‘Sometimes there’s absolutely no snow at all yet...

Parents Win Historic Reforms to Chicago’s Fees and Fines System

by COFI Admin | Sep 30, 2019 | City of Chicago, POWER-PAC IL, Stepping Out of Poverty

In less than two years of organizing and advocacy by POWER-PAC IL’s Stepping Out of Poverty Campaign, Chicago has taken the first step to reforming its fees and fines system! On January 18, 2018, parents published the “Stopping the Debt Spiral” report exposing the...

Memorial Celebration for Ms. Gloria Harris

by COFI Admin | Jul 18, 2019 | City of Chicago, General, POWER-PAC IL

Please join us to celebrate the life of Ms. Gloria Harris! S A T U R D A Y J U L Y 2 7 | 1 : 0 0 – 2 : 3 0 PM | COFI Office: 1436 W. Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60607 Please let us know you are coming by calling (312) 226-5141 or email...