Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
@cofionline.bsky.social
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: https://cofionline.org/
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
COFI Center's quarterly newsletter | Fall Updates 🍁
Email from COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND FAMILY ISSUES Welcome back to our quarterly COFI Center for Action & Learning newsletter! 🎉 Happy 30th Anniversary, COFI! 🎉COFI has been training parents to be
conta.cc
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
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...
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...
Earned but Unclaimed: Making Illinois Tax Refunds Work for the Families Who Need Them
Many U.S. households don’t know that the government owes them money. Here are ways states can connect people to those benefits.
www.newamerica.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:08 PM
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...
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...
Read more about it here: www.firstalert4.com/2025/11/02/f...
Federal shutdown delaying energy assistance as Illinois families face soaring utility bills
SNAP isn't the only program being impacted by the now month-long federal shutdown. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association warns there have been delays in another federal program designed...
www.firstalert4.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
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...
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!
November 6, 2025 at 7:44 PM
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...
Read more: dignityinschools.org/dsc-issue-sn...
October 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
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...
Read more: dignityinschools.org/dsc-issue-sn...
Reposted by Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
Cook County is making history. President Toni Preckwinkle’s 2026 budget makes the nation’s largest #guaranteedincome program permanent — putting $ directly in the pockets of working families. ESIL is proud to partner on this nation-leading effort.
🔗 economicsecurityproject.org/news/cook-co...
🔗 economicsecurityproject.org/news/cook-co...
October 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Cook County is making history. President Toni Preckwinkle’s 2026 budget makes the nation’s largest #guaranteedincome program permanent — putting $ directly in the pockets of working families. ESIL is proud to partner on this nation-leading effort.
🔗 economicsecurityproject.org/news/cook-co...
🔗 economicsecurityproject.org/news/cook-co...
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...
East St. Louis schools address unreliable bus service as frustrations mount
“(Families) want safety, they want reliability, and we do as well,” said the District 189 spokesperson.
www.bnd.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:43 PM
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
Education is STILL a Human Right! #EndSchoolPushout #DSCWoA2025
September 10, 2025 at 5:07 PM
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
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/
🔗 Register today. cofionline.org/events/
August 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
📢 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/
🔗 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.
August 25, 2025 at 2:24 PM
(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.
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!
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!
August 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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!
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...
www.univision.com/local/chicag...
Tarifa del gas podría aumentar para el próximo año en Illinois: así propone el incremento Nicor Gas
Este jueves se llevó a cabo una junta para escuchar la opinión de los consumidores tras la propuesta del aumento de tarifas de la empresa Nicor Gas. La compañía dice que debe haber un incremento de…
www.univision.com
August 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
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...
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/
🔗 Register today. cofionline.org/events/
August 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
📢 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/
🔗 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
COFI Center's quarterly newsletter | Our 2025-26 training schedule is live!
Email from Welcome back to our quarterly COFI Center for Action & Learning newsletter! 🎉Our 2025-2026 training schedule is live! Click here to view it or scroll down. We hope you'll join us for tra
conta.cc
August 13, 2025 at 2:03 PM
📢 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-...
August 11, 2025 at 10:51 PM
🚨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...
🎧: www.cct.org/stories/trus...
Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 20: Advocating for Policy Reform - The Chicago Community Trust
Although nonprofit organizations play a vital role in recognizing and addressing the needs of the community, research shows the percentage of nonprofits involved in advocacy…
www.cct.org
August 5, 2025 at 6:39 PM
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...
🎧: 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...
Stay Informed
Are you energized about COFI's growing parent-led movement for economic, racial, and social justice? Stay informed and sign up for COFI's mailing list.
cofionline.org
August 3, 2025 at 3:29 PM
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...
Some ComEd customers seeing triple-digit bill increases as supply rate hike, heat wave converge
The spike in the wholesale cost of electricity, which ComEd buys at an annual auction and then passes on to its customers, paired with increased energy usage, added $67.28 month-over-month to the a…
www.chicagotribune.com
August 3, 2025 at 1:27 PM
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...
Jobs at COFI
Join us in building a grassroots movement of parent leaders working for economic, racial, and social justice for families.
cofionline.org
August 2, 2025 at 9:28 PM
📢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...
July 26, 2025 at 9:33 PM
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
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Family Engagement Webinar 4: Engaging Parents in Local Collaborations. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Family Engagement Webinar 4: Engaging Parents in Local Collaborations. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
bit.ly
July 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
📣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...
Great Lakes energy bills are rising: Federal cuts could add to the pain
These articles are part of a series in partnership between Great Lakes Now and Planet Detroit. Read the whole series here. Sherita Hamlin has watched
planetdetroit.org
July 23, 2025 at 10:23 PM
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 Parent Leaders Persist in 2024-2025! | COFI
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.
cofionline.org
July 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
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...
Illinois Ends Immigrant Health Program, Local Groups Step In
Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults ended July 1, leaving thousands without coverage. Now, Chicago organizations are filling the gap.
borderlessmag.org
July 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
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
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Family Engagement Webinar 4: Engaging Parents in Local Collaborations. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Family Engagement Webinar 4: Engaging Parents in Local Collaborations. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
bit.ly
July 17, 2025 at 9:27 PM
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