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.

Iris Gipson
Parent Representative, Great Start Collaborative Parent Coalition (Kent County, MI)
A picture of Iris Gipson

The COFI Way has brought strength, skill, knowledge, and understanding of the parent voice.

I am a Parent Leader Network steering committee alumni, and a COFI facilitator trained in all three phases of The COFI Way. The work I do is early childhood education, parent leadership, and connecting families to resources.

The COFI Way has brought strength, skill, knowledge, and understanding of the parent voice.

I have trained parent leaders in my community using the COFI model. We’ve done self care events inclusive of everyone in the community. We’ve put on Family Fun Fridays. We’ve canvassed our neighborhoods to identify our strengths, weaknesses, and solutions to improve the relationships in our community.

Anyone who is considering learning more about COFI should know that The COFI Way is  a powerful leadership model that is life changing. It is all about relationship building and creating a village for all in the community.

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