POWER-PAC IL
Guided by The COFI Way, parents unite across the state of Illinois to take on the issues that matter most to families… and get things done!
POWER-PAC IL is a cross-cultural, statewide membership organization of COFI-trained parents whose mission is to build the voice and power of low-income, immigrant, and working families by uniting parents across race and community around issues of importance to children and families.
Established in 2003 by COFI-trained parents, POWER-PAC (Parents Organized to Win, Educate, and Renew – Policy Action Council) was born out of the vision of a formal coalition of COFI-trained leaders. The name was formally changed to POWER-PAC, Illinois (POWER-PAC IL) in 2017 to reflect the organization’s growth statewide.
Hailing from Chicago (including the neighborhoods of Austin, Englewood, Garfield Park, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Kenwood, Little Village, North Lawndale, Pilsen, Washington Park, West Lawn, West Town, Woodlawn, and others), Aurora, East St. Louis, Elgin, and Evanston, parent leaders work side-by-side to influence, advocate for, and enact powerful change.
POWER-PAC IL is The COFI Way in action.
Trained and supported by COFI, POWER-PAC IL is parent-led and parent-powered. Together, parent leaders have won hundreds of important victories for low-income families across the state. Over the years, POWER-PAC IL has:
Won $2.5 million in state funding
to launch Children’s Savings Accounts for all Illinois families
Connected with 1,000 families
to conduct a statewide trauma healing and mental health survey
Increased early childhood funding by 10%
and extended eligibility for families to receive Early Intervention services
Eliminated 82% of School Resource Officers (police)
in CPS high schools and $3.8 million reinvested in budget toward alternative supports
Expanded Earned Income Credit for 4.5 million families
including immigrants who file taxes, ensuring that many more will see annual financial relief during tax season
Formed the agenda at over 160 local and national tables
and ensured that expert parent voices are represented and heard
Photo by Melissa Fox
Parents take charge on issues that matter:
POWER-PAC IL leaders work on four issue campaigns that impact families in Chicago and across the state.
Early Learning Campaign
Ensuring universal and equitable access for all of Illinois’ youngest generations to high-quality early childhood programs, enabling them to succeed and thrive later in life. Learn more.
Elementary Justice Campaign
Mental Health Justice and Equity Campaign
Ensuring children and families of color have good mental, physical, and social supports. Learn more.
Stepping Out of Poverty Campaign
Decreasing the racial wealth gap by reducing or eliminating harmful fees and fines that mire low-income families in debt and winning asset building resources such as Children’s Savings Accounts and Guaranteed Basic Income. Learn more.
But first, parents tackle change on a local level
Before starting with POWER-PAC IL, new participants work with experienced leaders at the neighborhood level, and in the process begin to utilize what they’ve learned in COFI training. Working together in parent teams, with ongoing training and support, they put The COFI Way into practice and see firsthand the difference they can make, together, in their communities.
POWER-PAC IL Leadership
Meet the members of the 2024-25 POWER-PAC IL Executive Committee and Governing Council.
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