Twice a year, Turning the Page hosts Parent Leadership Conferences (PLC). During these invigorating conferences, parents come together to learn from one another. They can collaborate on ideas to improve their schools and serve their neighborhoods. At a previous conference in Chicago, one parent leader said that “It was really enlightening, really good for self-image…That day was our day as parents to think about things we don’t have time to reflect on.” Last fall, the PLC was filled with activities, a panel of community partners, and a Q&A session with 24th Ward Alderman Michael Scott Jr. But this spring, we’re doing something a little different!
The Summer Resource Festival
At previous PLCs, we’ve gathered information from wonderful local organizations and institutions to share with our parents. But this year, we’re taking things up a notch. After a morning devoted to recognizing parent leaders, we’ve organized a Summer Resource Festival for the afternoon. We’ve partnered with tons of great organizations to join us at the Nichols Tower and to share resources they provide to parents and families.
By inviting our partners together, we provide the resources parents need to stay engaged with their children all summer long. To help combat the “summer slide,” we’ve partnered with over twenty organizations for this festival. This day could not happen without all of these other organizations coming together as a community and we wanted to recognize them for all their hard work and dedication. There is a vast range of programs for parents and families to learn about, including:
- Citywide institutions like the Chicago Public Library, Rush Medical Center, and Family Focus
- Other literacy groups like Open Books, the David L Hoyt Foundation, and the UIC Center for Literacy
- Our neighbors in Nichols Tower like Free Spirit Media and School of the Art Institute (SAIC)
And there will be many, many more. We can’t wait for a glorious afternoon of fun, games, food, and music. But most important, it’s an afternoon of connecting parents to resources within the community and throughout the city!
If supporting parent leaders is important to you, consider a donation to Turning the Page today.