Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
COFI trains and organizes thousands of parents to be powerful leaders. Together, they are making their communities better for all families. Learn more about our work: cofionline.org
- COFI and POWER-PAC IL wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season and New Year! 🎉❄️ Thank you for following along as we build parent power locally, statewide in Illinois, and nationally! Whether you’re a longtime friend of COFI or new to our work, we appreciate YOU!
- ICYMI: Here are some parent-led utility victories and updates to know about gas rate hikes and discounts for Ameren and Nicor Gas customers! 🔗 cofionline.org/utility-vict...
- Today kicks off “Babies Can’t Wait: We Need EI! Week of Action"! We’re joining Raising Illinois, families, and advocates across Illinois to take action for Early Intervention (EI)! Take action here: www.raisingillinois.org/high-quality...
- It's not too late to donate to COFI this #GivingTuesday! Now, more than ever, we need your support. With your support, COFI can develop parent leaders who demand change and win critical victories for families. Donate today: cofionline.org/what-you-can-do/donate-to-cofi/
- Meet Leah this #GivingTuesday! She's a longtime partner and supporter of COFI. She partnered with COFI 10 years ago on a parent-led project to address the lack of developmental screenings. Supporters like you and Leah champion parent voices. Donate today! cofionline.org/what-you-can...
- We're excited to launch our “30 Stories for 30 Years” storytelling campaign this #GivingTuesday! Our first story is from Talibah, who started as a parent leader, joined our staff, and now leads Chicago organizing work. Watch her story & donate: cofionline.org/what-you-can... youtu.be/nOiLrZgMpwM?...
- As you plan your #GivingTuesday contributions today, we hope you’ll stand with COFI and parent leaders! When you give to COFI, your gift goes directly toward building the power and voice of parents who are organizing for policies that support families. Donate today! cofionline.org/what-you-can...
- The COFI Center for Action & Learning newsletter is out! Check out our fall updates on training, a webinar the Center hosted with the NYU Metro Center, and more! conta.cc/45eGPKJ
- How can we design a state program that meets families’ needs for easier and more affordable tax filings? Check out how @newamerica.org engaged COFI and POWER-PAC IL parent leaders across the state in creating a simplified filing program. Read more: www.newamerica.org/chicago/blog...
- No more utility rate increases! As Ameren seeks a gas rate hike, COFI and POWER-PAC IL leaders in East St. Louis co-hosted a community forum to discuss the proposed increase, available resources, and the future of home heating. Read more about it here: www.firstalert4.com/2025/11/02/f...
- Education should be a sanctuary—free from violence and fear. That’s why COFI & POWER-PAC IL parents are united on the front lines of the fight to protect children, keep our communities safe, and demand that our policies and systems work better for families!
- Reposted by Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)Massive Education Department layoffs decimated offices protecting students with disabilities, civil rights, and funding oversight. Even though IEPs remain legally enforceable, the collapse of accountability tools makes violations far more likely. Read more: dignityinschools.org/dsc-issue-sn...
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- Shout out to East St. Louis parents with Parents United for Change (PUFC) for circulating a petition calling for improved school transportation and highlighting the safety issues that students face due to unreliable bus services. Read more: www.bnd.com/news/local/e...
- Reposted by Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)Schools should be places of hope, belonging & possibility. But millions of students are criminalized through policing & harsh codes. This Oct 18–26, join us in declaring: Education is STILL a Human Right! #EndSchoolPushout #DSCWoA2025
- 📢 Training Alert: The next round of trainings for the COFI Center for Action and Learning is live! Build parent power in your community with COFI this fall and spring at one of our in-person or virtual trainings. 🔗 Register today. cofionline.org/events/
- (1/2) What does affordability mean to you? Metro East leaders Tashonia, Monique, and Alicia joined our partners at the Economic Security Project for their "Road to Affordability Tour" stop in the Metro East area.
- (2/2) Tashonia and Monique shared powerful parent testimonies about the rising cost of family needs - like gas and electric utility bills - and highlighted how more and more families need a second income or side hustle to support their families.
- Children shouldn't be afraid to go to school! COFI and POWER-PAC IL leaders joined the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, lawmakers, and advocates this week to celebrate the signing of Safe Schools for All (HB 3247) into law!
- Elgin Leaders Susana, Esther, and Erika attended the ICC public forum on Nicor’s proposed gas rate increase. All three called on the utility company to prioritize affordability for customers. They also spoke to Univision about the proposed increase: www.univision.com/local/chicag...
- 📢 Training Alert: The next round of trainings for the COFI Center for Action and Learning is live! Build parent power in your community with COFI this fall and spring at one of our in-person or virtual trainings. 🔗 Register today. cofionline.org/events/
- 📢 The COFI Center for Action and Learning newsletter is out! Our 2025-26 training calendar is available now and check out a recap from our Phase 3: Policy & Systems Change training! conta.cc/4opRPws
- 🚨URGENT 🚨Head Start is under attack—again. The Trump administration is targeting immigrant families through a harmful and rushed rule change. Take action now by submitting a public comment! The deadline to submit a comment is THIS WEDNESDAY, August 13, at 11:59 p.m. ET. act.nwlc.org/a/headstart-...
- Tracy, COFI's Deputy Director of Policy and External Affairs, joined The Chicago Community Trust's #TrustTalks podcast to discuss the power of coalition-based advocacy in winning the IL Child Tax Credit and the role parents played in this policy win for families! 🎧: www.cct.org/stories/trus...
- Are you energized about COFI’s parent-led movement for economic, racial, and social justice? Sign up for COFI’s mailing list! You’ll receive updates a few times each month with news, calls to action, legislative victories, and parent stories. cofionline.org/what-you-can...
- COFI Leader Liliana spoke to the @chicagotribune.com about how her electricity bill has increased and the strategies her family uses to reduce their electricity usage during the summer. Read more and join us in calling for more utility affordability! www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/22/c...
- 📢COFI is #hiring! Join us in building a grassroots movement of parent leaders and apply to be a COFI Organizer in Kane County (Illinois)! Learn more and apply today: cofionline.org/about-cofi/j...
- Last week, COFI Parents Donna and Monique joined advocates and community members to honor the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis at the Good Trouble Lives On rally in Chicago, one of many rallies across the nation. Catch their testimonies here: www.youtube.com/live/Wl5E_Ua...
- 📣TOMORROW! Join Illinois Action for Children for their next Family Engagement webinar! COFI Parent Leader Liliana Olayo will join them for a discussion exploring how local collaborations across Illinois are partnering with parents to drive meaningful change. bit.ly/40bpeAu
- COFI Parent Leader Sherita spoke to @planetdetroit.org about how her utility bills have been increasing and how critical programs like LIHEAP are to families in the Great Lakes region. Read more: planetdetroit.org/2025/07/grea...
- ICYMI: COFI-trained leaders accomplished so much this school year, from hosting mental health forums to a school board candidate forum! 🎉 Check out our local wins recap to see what leaders from across Illinois worked on! cofionline.org/cofi-parent-...
- COFI Organizer Emily Cole spoke to @borderlessmag.bsky.social about the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, which ended July 1, and highlighted how COFI, @healthyillinois.bsky.social, and others are finding healthcare alternatives for the uninsured. borderlessmag.org/2025/07/22/i...
- We're excited to join partner Illinois Action for Children for their next Family Engagement webinar, "Engaging Parents in Local Collaborations," on Friday, July 25, at 10 AM! COFI Parent Leader Liliana Olayo is a panelist and will join them! 🔗Register here: bit.ly/40bpeAu
- TOMORROW! COFI Parents Donna and Monique will be speaking at the "Good Trouble Lives On" Day of Action in honor of civil rights hero John Lewis! Take action with us and let's fight for justice together!
- Congrats, graduates!! 🎉🎉 We hosted a COFI Phase 3: Policy and Systems Change training with participants from The Children’s Center (Utah), HACES in Lake County, Healthy Homes Coalition of West MI, and Parents for Healthy Homes from Grand Rapids, MI!
- Are you interested in building parent power? To see a list of upcoming organizer trainings at the COFI Center for Action and Learning, please visit: cofionline.org/events/
- Reposted by Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)Today, we’re excited to offer four real-life short stories of inside-outside strategy in action, from New Orleans, LA, Providence, RI, St. Louis, MO and Kane County, IL, that show what’s possible when public health and community power-building organizations join forces 🤝⤵️
- Thank you @hiporg.bsky.social for highlighting how COFI parent leaders and public health officials in Kane County partnered together!
- How parent leaders and public health officials partnered and applied an inside-outside strategy to expand mental health support, launch peer-to-peer support programs, and advocate for systemic changes in Kane County, Illinois. www.healthinpartnership.org/resources/ka...
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- We signed on to this powerful @aft.org ad in the NYT today because we believe working families deserve better! Trump and Congressional Republicans passed a cruel budget that guts healthcare, education, and food aid—just to give billionaires another tax break. www.aft.org/they-betraye...
- Last week, Chicago leaders joined two of the 2026 Chicago City Budget Roundtables. Now, more than ever, it's important that community members continue to engage with cities and local governments to ensure that the voices of Black and Brown parents are represented and included in budget priorities!
- Congrats to parent leaders from Little Village! As part of their COFI Phase 2: Community Outreach & Action training, they surveyed the community about safety concerns and held their community forum to share results. Thank you to Senator Celina Villanueva's office for stopping by!
- 🚨Children and families are worth fighting for! This Reconciliation Bill will hurt families by cutting Medicaid and SNAP, denying support to immigrant families, and more. Take action and tell your representatives in Congress to VOTE NO! p2a.co/DDr18L3
- Reposted by Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)After passing the Senate, the House will vote on the #BigBadBill next week. This is the same bill that cuts #Medicaid & #SNAP for millions of people, threatens the Child Tax Credit, could impact your ability to access & afford higher education, and much more. TAKE ACTION here: ow.ly/bxlp50WgXsT
- It is devastating to children and families that the White House is withholding appropriated funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program, which was the first campaign that COFI-trained parents led! Contact your legislators today! igniteadvocacy.com/go/release-f...
- Senate Republicans in Congress want to strip people of their healthcare by slashing Medicaid funding and they could vote on it this weekend. COFI parents Isaiah & Cye Cye spoke to @chicagotribune.com about the health risks they face if they lose their Medicaid. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/28/m...
- Way to go, Isaiah! Last week, he joined Senator Tammy Duckworth, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, and advocates from Access Living, AgeOptions, NAMI Illinois, and Friend Family Health Center to advocate and speak up for Medicaid!
- The Senate could vote on Medicaid cuts this weekend, but we must continue to speak up! These cuts will take away people's access to healthcare and lead to more sickness and suffering within families and communities. #HandsoffMedicaid #ProtectMedicaid
- Yesterday, COFI and POWER-PAC IL leaders joined advocates to condemn Trump’s escalating attacks on immigrants and communities across the country. We’re proud to stand with our partners against deportations and stand up to protect all mothers, fathers, and neighbors in our communities!
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- Meet Yolanda! She was part of POWER-PAC IL parents' efforts to create a parent committee to inform Illinois' early childhood agenda. This Friday, she'll share some highlights from a new report by COFI and Illinois Action for Children on family engagement. Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
- It's never too early to start saving for a child's future! On National 529 Day, learn about Illinois First Steps, which COFI/POWER-PAC IL helped establish! It gives parents a one-time $50 deposit into a 529 college savings account for their newborn. brightstart.com
- Exciting news! Safe Schools for All (HB3247) passed out of the Illinois House yesterday and now heads to the Senate! Contact your Illinois senator TODAY and tell them to vote YES for Safe Schools for All! icirr.quorum.us/campaign/126...
- 📢 Calling all #CSxFE25 attendees and @ielconnects.bsky.social community! Join Tracy and Ms. Rose tomorrow at 9 AM for an empowering workshop on the power of parent organizing and our work around educational equity!
- COFI and POWER-PAC IL Leaders Lynn Morton and Sherita Hamlin spoke to the Austin Weekly News about our Moms on a Mission lobby day! Check it out and learn how parents are building power on the West Side of Chicago and statewide in Illinois: www.austinweeklynews.com/2025/05/19/l...
- The COFI Center for Action and Learning newsletter is out! See the latest updates about trainings, a new report for improving family engagement in statewide early childhood decision-making, and more! conta.cc/3SFSQS8
