On Aug. 7, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) announced<\/span><\/a> that it is approving COFI and POWER-PAC IL\u2019s recommendations for a new discount rate program. The program is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2026*.<\/strong><\/p>\n The ICC also rejected a new rate proposed by Ameren that would have penalized customers with a charge during peak usage hours. COFI and POWER-PAC IL parents opposed this charge, which would have affected parents and families using electricity between 3 and 7 p.m. For families whose kids come home from school during that time, as well as for parents who can\u2019t control their work schedules, the charge would be completely unreasonable.<\/p>\n A big shoutout to our partner Karen Lusson at the NCLC, who legally represents parent leaders in our utility affordability cases with the Illinois Commerce Commission. Karen and the teams at NCLC and Legal Action Chicago understand the importance of bringing parent voices to the policymaking tables to help win critical victories for families!<\/p>\n Congratulations to the Stepping Out of Poverty Campaign<\/em><\/a><\/span> and all of POWER-PAC IL parents who made this possible!<\/strong> This win is part of a larger utility affordability push by parents for the last few years. In 2023, COFI, POWER-PAC IL, NCLC, and Legal Action won<\/span><\/a> a utility discount for gas utility bills. And in March of this year, the ICC also approved our recommendations for a discount rate for ComEd customers.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, it\u2019s common for utility companies to request rate hikes throughout the year, and parents are constantly speaking out against these unfair requests. If you\u2019re interested in learning more and staying connected about parents\u2019 fight for affordable utilities, sign up for our newsletter for updates about the Stepping Out of Poverty Campaign<\/em>!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n *Please note: An earlier version of this blog noted that the discount was set to begin on October 1, 2026. Per the Commission’s order, it is set to begin on June 1, 2026. We regret the error. If you have any questions, please reach out to COFI@cofionline.org.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_cta title=”Sign up for COFI’s mailing list” button_url=”\/what-you-can-do\/stay-informed\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Click here!” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Are you energized about COFI\u2019s growing parent-led movement for economic, racial, and social justice? Sign up for COFI\u2019s mailing list. You will receive updates a few times each month with news, calls to action, legislative victories, and parent stories.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COFI-trained parents in POWER-PAC IL, along with our partners at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and Legal Action Chicago, just won a huge victory for downstate Illinois Ameren Electric customers! On Aug. 7, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) announced that it is approving COFI and POWER-PAC IL\u2019s recommendations for a new discount rate program. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":33060,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"It\u2019s 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.\r\n\r\nParents make it look easy, but the truth is, it hasn\u2019t been a year without challenges and threats to Black and Brown communities. The new presidential administration has brought forward racist rhetoric by attacking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and our immigrant communities. They\u2019ve rolled back programs and investments that have been stepping stones for families and communities that COFI and POWER-PAC IL leaders have been building since 1995. (POWER-PAC IL is COFI's parent-led membership organization, which you can read more about here!<\/a><\/span>)\r\n\r\nNevertheless, parents have persisted! It\u2019s a reminder that parent-led change is the key to The COFI Way<\/em><\/a> <\/span>of making changes happen. We\u2019re proud to share just a few of our parents\u2019 local accomplishments and highlights from the last year.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nAurora<\/h2>\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web-Aurora-2025-event-600x251.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nAurora worked with 14 new parents, who completed Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em><\/span><\/a> of COFI's family-focused organizing and leadership training! As part of their training, the parents set a team goal to host a community conversation about mental health. The panelists spoke about the importance of mental health and how racism and the immigrant experience impact an individual's and family's mental health and well-being. Over 65 people attended the even (pictured above)!\u00a0<\/em>\r\n\r\nOutside of training, Aurora and Elgin co-hosted a \u201cShining a Light<\/span><\/a>\u201d forum to share findings and recommendations from COFI and POWER-PAC IL\u2019s parent-led report around mental health policies and supports.\r\nChicago - Northwest, Westside, Southside, and Southwest Sides<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_33219\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"417\"]
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/web-Group-pic-SPUR-2025-600x404.jpg\")
The Southside branch with Phase 2 graduates at the community forum, where parents talked to administrators about implementing the Whole School Safety policy.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nA big focus of the Chicago local branches and teams has been on advancing the Whole School Safety<\/span><\/a> policy at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), as well as neighborhood safety and mental health.\r\n\r\nPhase 1 graduates from the Southside and Southwest Branches moved on to Phase 2: Community Outreach and Action<\/em> of COFI\u2019s family-focused organizing and leadership training! They knocked on doors in their neighborhoods and held community forums to share their findings and discuss next steps. The Southside focused on student safety and talking to administrators about implementing the Whole School Safety policy that parents won with partners last year<\/span><\/a>. The Southwest side focused on neighborhood safety and building community support for increasing art and sports programming for teenagers.\r\n\r\nThe Westside, Northwest, and Southwest Sides are also training new groups of parents in Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em>.\r\n\r\nParent leaders throughout the Westside came together to push mental health advocacy and create spaces for holistic recharger, from Hay parent leaders normalizing the conversation about mental illness and the stigma surrounding it, to Herzl Parent leaders holding mental health healing circles, to an end-of-the-year Women\u2019s Mental Health event and resource fair.\r\n\r\nThe Southwest team at Juarez High School set a team goal of improving safety in the hallways and created a parent patrol to help students feel safe. And parents at Clemente focused on Whole School Safety and met with new CPS School Board member Michilla Blaise.\r\n\r\nOutside of training, the Chicago branches came together to host a candidates' Meet and Greet<\/span><\/a> for Chicago\u2019s first-ever Elected Representative School Board election. They invited candidates from POWER-PAC IL districts (Districts 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10) and asked them about their views on Whole School Safety, mental health, and early learning.\r\nEast St. Louis\/Metro-East Area<\/h2>\r\nTwo parent action groups are on the move in the Metro-East area! One group is in East St. Louis, and the other is in Brooklyn, which was recently spotlighted by the Chicago Tribune as the oldest Black town in America<\/a>. The two groups came together and are hosting a Family Literacy Night in early July, as part of their Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em> training.\r\n\r\nThroughout the year, Parents United for Change (PUFC) branch leaders have focused on addressing transportation issues and improving school lunches for their children. In February, they officially joined School District 189\u2019s transportation committee to discuss solutions to busing. Parents have also conducted lunch surveys and partnered with the district\u2019s Food Manager and Wellness committee to offer healthier lunch options.\r\n\r\nFinally, branch members co-hosted an event with local organizations on June 7, called Power Exchange: Transforming the Future of the East St. Louis Area. It was an opportunity to bring residents together, educate the community about local issues and ongoing change efforts, and build a collective vision for the community. PUFC parents led workshops on food insecurity and mental health for participants!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_33217\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"385\"]
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/web-ESTL-power-exchange-600x450.jpg\")
East St. Louis Parent Monique facilitates a discussion at the Power Exchange event.[\/caption]\r\nElgin<\/h2>\r\nFourteen new Elgin parents completed Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em> this year. Many of them shared individual financial goals and then set a collective team goal of hosting a financial education series with three workshops: \"Your Money, Your Family,\" \"Financial Peace,\" and \"Your Story and Your Finances.\" (A group picture is featured above!)<\/em>\r\n\r\nOutside of training, parents also hosted a dual language event, where community members heard from students, parents, and school administrators about the benefits and challenges of students enrolled in dual-language classes.\r\n
Evanston<\/h2>\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/web-Evanston-2025-600x479.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nTen new graduates completed Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team <\/em>(pictured above)! Their team-building goal is focused on healthy lifestyles and well-being, which includes hosting a nutritional cooking class for the Evanston branch at the start of the new school year in Fall 2025!\r\n\r\nOutside of training, the branch also held two big events! School board and city council elections took place this year, and parents hosted a bilingual breakfast with the candidates. Additionally, they held a \u201cShining a Light\u201d forum to build support for POWER-PAC IL\u2019s parent-led recommendations around mental health services.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nNew Communities<\/h1>\r\n
Rockford<\/h2>\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/web-Rockford-2025-600x450.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nParents from Lewis Lemon in Rockford completed Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team <\/em>(pictured above)! This summer, they will plan to attend some of the Saturday summer street market events together with their families to continue building relationships as a team. Also, Aurora Parent Leader Liliana Olayo co-led training with COFI Organizer Talibah Moore! Way to go, Lili and Talibah!\r\nWaukegan<\/h2>\r\nCOFI co-trained, with staff from HACES<\/a><\/span> (Hispanic American Community Education and Services), 35 Parent Mentors from 6 schools in Self, Family, and Team this year. The group had several team goals, one of which was to implement a Little Library outside of a school that was built by parents who secured the book donations.\r\n
Plano<\/h2>\r\nCOFI Parent Leaders from Aurora - Liliana Olayo, Marisol Luna, and Zor Zapata - peer trained 17 parents in Plano (Kendall County) in Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em>. The training was hosted by PAASSS (Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success)<\/span><\/a> and sponsored by Illinois Action for Children<\/span><\/a>\u2019s CS3 initiative. The parents were part of a community event where they publicly launched their parent team, Plano Families with Vision, and shared information about art workshops they are hosting this summer. Great job, Plano!","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stepping-out-of-poverty","category-utilities"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n