“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.”

Meet Chanelle! She has always had a vision for her family, community, and herself. 

For three generations, Chanelle’s family made Evanston, Illinois, their home. Despite Evanston being a community with resources, not everyone has access to those resources. But she knew her mother and grandfather had made sacrifices to ensure she succeeded. 

“It’s not fair that my family had to spend so much money to make sure I didn’t fail. Early on, I knew things needed to change,” she said. 

After seeing a COFI flier at her daughter’s school, Chanelle began attending COFI training. At the time, she was a single mom and had just lost her father to gun violence. Through the training, she connected with other moms and felt less alone. 

In fact, she felt energized by her new COFI community. The trainers and the moms in the room were interested in her – her strengths, goals, and vision for the future. Through training and her new community, Chanelle felt empowered. 

She became increasingly involved in her daughter’s school, which led to her daughter receiving the 504 education plan she was entitled to. She also started a movement to include more Black and Brown parents on the school’s PTA (serving as the first co-chair) and created a peace circle. 

Today, Chanelle has held many roles at COFI and POWER-PAC IL, including delegate of her branch, POWER-PAC IL Statewide Vice-President, Co-Chair of the Elementary Justice Campaign, and now she is on the COFI Board of Trustees.

“My dream for COFI’s 30th is to keep telling more parents that they have power,” she said.

Chanelle envisions a community, state, and nation where all residents are thriving–and have equitable access to the resources they need. She sees all schools offering peace circles, safe spaces, and reliable, consistent mental health supports. Chanelle wants to reimagine punitive disciplinary responses – and to eliminate disparate outcomes for Black and Brown students. 

“For three decades, COFI parent leaders have been working every day to make that vision a reality for all,” she said. “And we won’t stop organizing until it happens.”