Southwest Organizing Project and Logan Square Neighborhood Association for the Parent Engagement Institute

Educated by their battles to maintain affordable housing for Latinx and African-American residents threatened with displacement, in 1994 the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) brought the strength of community voice to area schools. Creating the city’s first Parent Mentor Program, the organization empowered mothers to advocate and win more community-friendly schools where their children could thrive. This successful effort was admired across the city and in 2004 was replicated by the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) in Chicago Lawn. Less than a decade later, both organizations had developed a model that integrated moms in schools in a manner that improved their children’s outcomes, enhanced the schools’ relationships with the community, and a corps of activist mothers devoted to changing policies, in and out of school, that inhibited the potential of children. In 2012, LSNA and SWOP joined forces. Together they created the Parent Engagement Institute (PEI) with the ambitious goal of replicating their Chicago efforts around the state. In its first year, and against all odds, the young network fought for and won $1 million in state funding. With it, PEI expanded to 13 organizations training parents in 62 schools, including 20 outside of Chicago. Over the next seven years, with parent mentors working with state representatives as well as their local schools and in the classrooms, the network continued to grow. Despite state budget cuts and payment delays, the network of moms and local organizations not only lobbied in Springfield, they brought legislators to them to show the impact in the classroom on student achievement, student behavior, and school success.In Spring 2019, the efforts of 925 parent mentors working with 30 community organizations in 117 schools garnered $3.5 million from the Illinois legislature. The new funding is helping PEI expand again, 1,150 mentors in 148 schools across 23 school districts and 50 state legislative districts. That is not the only victory. Through PEI’s efforts, teachers and administrators now see parents as essential partners. Where parents were once reticent, their voices are now heard, not only in the classroom for education equity but for just and equitable housing, healthcare, and immigration reform. For their courageous leadership, robust collaboration, and skillful organizing for voice and power, SWOP and LSNA are this year’s recipients of the Woods Fund of Chicago Power of Community Award for the Parent Engagement Institute.