“If We Come Together Then We Have Power:” Illinois Parents and Families Leading Across Communities

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 4:15pm
  In Poster Session: The Parent Power and Leadership Project: Transforming Families Through Community Organizing

Abstract

1. Objectives or purposes

The purpose of the case study was to illustrate, within the context of Latino and Black Illinois families, how community organizing and leadership development for progressive social change shape the learning and growth of parents and their families, particularly youth. The case study took place with Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), the home of POWER-PAC IL. A goal was to advance learnings related to the effects of local mobilization while also shining a light on local grassroots work across diverse communities with varying challenges and opportunities.

2. Perspective(s)/theoretical framework

The membership base of parent leadership and organizing organizations is largely women of color and mothers (Geller et al., 2023). Organizing for social change interactively shapes family relationships (Cossyleon and Geller 2022; Cossyleon 2018). Yet, little is known, from the perspectives of the spouses and children of parent leaders, how this work affects their understandings of the world. Our study is one of the first ethnographic efforts to document the perspectives of organizing families in Illinois who work tirelessly to create racial, social, and economic justice.

3. Methods

Case study methods included participant observations, in-depth interviews with parent leaders and their families, as well as a content analysis of relevant materials produced by the organization and parent leaders.

4. Data sources:
The case study is informed by 24 in-depth interviews and focus groups, including 15 interviews with the children of parent leaders, ranging in age from 7 to 23. We conducted over 55 hours of participant observations at 18 events over the span of two years (2022-2024). We also collected handmade drawings created by youth.

5. Results

Findings show how COFI Way Leadership Development helps to inspire and activate youth, families, and communities from diverse neighborhoods across the state. Families shared their quest to remain engaged in their communities, discuss policy priorities widely, speak up when something was not right, and continue to envision and act towards the changes they want to see. Children learned from their parents regarding the foundations of organizing and the possibilities of social change. In some cases, they also learned how to disagree with people (including their organizing parent) related to policy priorities and needed changes. Through the development of community organizing skills, families were better able to have healthy debates within and outside of their families and to make small and big changes in their families and communities.

6. Scientific or scholarly significance

The case study suggests there are widespread benefits to the increased investment in the leadership development of parents and youth to strengthen and protect democracy. Beyond supporting CBOs to engage with parents at the local level, K-12 curriculum can provide foundational community organizing skills. Among these skills are having one-on-one conversations related to something you care about, creating a meeting agenda, scheduling a meeting with a local representative, and more. As future leaders of our planet, a top priority should be ensuring youth have the tools to lead bravely, justly, and in community with diverse groups.

Author

• Jennifer Cossyleon, Community Change