Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
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cofionline.bsky.social
Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
@cofionline.bsky.social
35 followers 77 following 78 posts
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/
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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/
December 3, 2025 at 12:15 AM
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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...
December 2, 2025 at 11:03 PM
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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...
Four snapshots photos. From top to bottom: there's a group picture of COFI parent leaders and staff; a group picture of East St. Louis parents and children with their fists in the air; a group picture of Latina mothers at their local city hall meeting; and two women hugging. The text on the graphic reads: Parent leaders are organizing for safer communities, stronger schools, and policies that truly support families. Stand with parent leaders this Giving Tuesday!
December 2, 2025 at 1:24 PM
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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!
Text graphic that reads: Education should be a sanctuary—free from violence and fear. But two disturbing ICE incidents happened yesterday that highlight the urgent need for stronger protections in our communities! COFI and POWER-PAC IL were horrified to see the violence and aggressive actions ICE took to detain a day care teacher in front of children and families on Chicago’s North Side. This is why Governor Pritzker needs to sign HB1312 into law NOW to ensure licensed childcare centers have the safety and protections they deserve. And in a separate incident in Aurora, a father was also taken while he was dropping off his child at a middle school. We need to support our schools with the resources and training they need to implement strong policies like the "Safe Schools for All" Act, so that they can handle the possibility of federal immigration agents on campus. Because when our children and communities see such extreme violence, it leaves behind lasting scars and undermines trust in our systems. That’s why 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
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📢 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/
August 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
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(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
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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!
August 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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📢 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/
August 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
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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
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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!
July 9, 2025 at 10:55 PM
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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!
July 9, 2025 at 8:23 PM
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July 3, 2025 at 9:38 PM
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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!
Isaiah shares his testimony at a table with nine other advocates and government leaders, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. There is a sign language interpreter in the background
June 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
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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!
June 11, 2025 at 2:07 PM
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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...
June 4, 2025 at 12:13 AM
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📢 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!
May 29, 2025 at 4:54 PM
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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
May 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
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🚨NEW: COFI and Illinois Action for Children are out with a new report: "Lessons from the Family Advisory Committee & Family Engagement Workgroup"!

Read the report here: www.actforchildren.org/wp-content/u...
A report featuring a father, toddler, and mother on the cover
May 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
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Shout out to Parent Leaders Donna and Liliana, who helped moderate the rally, and Parent Leaders Lorie, Nelly, and Charnell for sharing their personal stories!
May 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
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Yesterday, COFI and POWER-PAC IL leaders joined @icirr.bsky.social‬, @c4racialjustice.bsky.social‬, Arab American Family Services, and other partners to call on Illinois lawmakers to expand the state Child Tax Credit!
May 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
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Happy Mother's Day! 🌸 Today, we honor all the mothers and mother figures who are powerful leaders in their communities AND families! Moms and mother figures are fighting every day for their children and families to ensure they have what they need to thrive in life!
May 11, 2025 at 6:58 PM
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A few pictures from today’s #MomsOnAMission! We 💙 seeing parents raise their voices and build power in Springfield!

Learn more about parents’ top legislative priorities: cofionline.org/the-work/pow...
May 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
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Finally, the last part of our agenda focuses on equitable K-12 education and health and human services! Scroll through the pictures or check out our entire legislative agenda here: bit.ly/COFIMOMs2025
A person is holding a sign that reads "Healthcare for all! I pay taxes" The text reads: CHILDREN AND FAMILY RIGHTS TO HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET - PROTECT HBIA (HEALTH BENEFITS FOR IMMIGRANT ADULTS) Lifesaving healthcare for approx. 33,000 immigrant adults who are ineligible for federal healthcare. Ending the program would lead to avoidable deaths. BUDGET – IMMIGRANT SERVICES LINE ITEM (ISLI) $40M toward important programs and services for immigrants. Six people are taking a group picture. The text reads: CHILDREN AND FAMILY RIGHTS TO EQUITABLE K-12 EDUCATION BUDGET – FULLY FUND ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Support more than the $350 million annual increase to Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) Formula. $2.5 billion is needed to fully fund our schools by 2027. (HB 3082) FUND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS – REP. ORTÍZ $50M for crucial afterschool programs About 14 adults and four children are sitting and standing for a group picture. The text on the graphic reads: CHILDREN AND FAMILY RIGHTS TO EQUITABLE K-12 EDUCATION (HB 3247) SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL – REP. JIMÉNEZ Protect right of immigrant children to free and public education in Illinois and protect students from immigration enforcement in schools. (SB 1519) END STUDENT TICKETING – SEN. VILLA / REP. FORD Increase transparency of police notifications in schools and prevent school referrals to police to issue costly tickets to students for school discipline situations.
May 6, 2025 at 10:31 PM
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Part 2 of our COFI and POWER-PAC IL Legislative Agenda is here! We're spotlighting our agenda items around economic security and early care and education!

Check out our entire legislative agenda here: cofionline.org/the-work/pow...
A group of parents in Springfield. One father is holding a sign that reads "Illinois Families Deserve a Child Tax Credit". CHILDREN AND FAMILY RIGHTS TO ECONOMIC SECURITY (SB 753) IL CHILD TAX CREDIT – SEN. AQUINO Increases IL CTC to $400 PER child and expands eligibility to families earning no income. (SB 2392) ILLINOIS GUARANTEED INCOME FUND – SEN. GUZMÁN Creates Illinois Guaranteed Income Fund to provide grants to local/city governments, or organizations for guaranteed income pilots. Text that reads: CHILDREN AND FAMILY RIGHTS TO ECONOMIC SECURITY (SB 1751) SNAP EBT MINIMUM INCREASE – SEN. CERVANTES / REP. LAPOINTE Raises minimum monthly SNAP benefit from $23 to $75. Help an estimated 178,000 households afford groceries. (SB 1298) EXPAND SNAP BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS – SEN. GUZMÁN Ensures more programs can fulfill work eligibility requirement. (SB 1419 ) HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL – SEN. ELLMAN $67M to improve access and quality of school meals A woman holding a baby girl. The text reads: CHILDREN AND FAMILY RIGHTS TO EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION $60M INCREASE FOR EARLY INTERVENTION Reduce service delays for families by addressing workforce crisis with greater reimbursement rates to providers. BUDGET – $15 MILLION INCREASE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD ACCESS CONSORTIUM FOR EQUITY (ECACE) Helps students gain scholarships to enter the childhood workforce. Text that reads: CHILDREN AND FAMILY RIGHTS TO EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION (SB 1555) PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNCIL - SEN. LOUGHRAN CAPPEL / REP. HIRSCHAUER Require ISBE to create a subcommittee of Advisory Council for Education of Children with Disabilities. Helps families and providers advocate for high-quality services for preschoolers with disabilities. BUDGET – $170 MILLION INCREASE TO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP) AND SMART START CHILD CARE Makes child care assistance more accessible to families through increased CCAP grants and caseload management. BUDGET – $5 MILLION INCREASE FOR HOME VISITING PROGRAMS Expand services, increase provider pay, and enhance the state's infrastructure.
May 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
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We can't wait for #MomsOnAMission! This week, we'll travel to Springfield to fight for our agenda focusing on children and family rights! Here are our top priorities. Stay tuned for the rest of our agenda, or check it out on our website: cofionline.org/the-work/pow...
Parent leaders are taking notes and talking to Rep. Guzzardi. Text on the graphic reads, "Moms on a Mission Legislative Agenda 2025 Part 1" Budget priorities are listed including raising $6B in revenue, protect HBIA (Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults), a $60M increase to early intervention, and fully fund public schools Vote yes on our priorities, including (SB 753) IL CHILD TAX CREDIT – SEN. AQUINO Increase IL CTC to $400 PER child and expand eligibility to families with no income. (SB 1555) PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNCIL – SEN. LOUGHRAN CAPPEL / REP. HIRSCHAUER Create state subcommittee focused on preschool special education. (SB 1519) END STUDENT TICKETING – SEN. VILLA / REP. FORD Prevent issuing costly tickets to students for school discipline situations and increase transparency of police notifications. (HB 3247) SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL – REP. JIMÉNEZ Protect right of immigrant children to free and public education in Illinois and protect students from immigration enforcement in schools. Parent Leaders cheering with their fists up on the steps of the Illinois Capitol building. The text reads, "View our legislative agenda and join our fight for children and families."
May 6, 2025 at 12:11 AM