Power of Parents

More on Mayor Emanuel's Transition Plan:

Initiative #34 focuses on engaging parents to help improve education.

We could not agree more.

And it is particularly good to see that the Transition Team chose to highlight ideas focused on building long-term relationships, such as requiring parent-teacher agreements. This is something that has long been a practice at Chicago Commons.

And it is equally notable what is absent. During the Mayoral campaign, it was reported that Emanuel was considering a "parent trigger” approach that would allow parents to vote to shut-down and re-open schools. A parent trigger approach could cast a political shadow over the parent-school relationship. Glad to see this idea was left out of the transition plan.

Choosing Words

Rahm Emanuel’s transition plan is impressive in its scope and contains some bold plans. It includes a call for expansion of quality and full-day early childhood program. See Page 46.

Well, we like it overall. But the choice of words is not so inspiring – like “funding streams that are unified”. Spoken like a true policy wonk.

The plan distinguishes between “school-based” and “community-based” settings, not choosing one over the other, but suggesting that things should be less fragmented. Sounds good, unless it leads to consolidation of early childhood education under the public schools bureaucracy.

Words I would have liked to see in the plan: creativity and collaboration. Look forward to getting involved in this.

Whacking Human Services

Over the past two years, funding from Illinois Dept. of Human Services has been reduced by 21%. There is no other major state agency cut this deeply. Thousands of vulnerable children and adults have or soon will lose support services.

Education, Health Care and Prisons have been cut, but not even close to the same degree. And state leaders have left other options untouched such as pension restructuring and new revenue sources.

The budget is a moral document and we are all complicit in the choices.

Governor Quinn has posted a survey for all citizens... Click here and rank your priorities.. keep in mind that Human Services prevents spending on other areas especially Corrections and Health Care.

Comptroller, one tough job

Judy Baar Topinka, State Comptroller, recently took the time to meet with Chicago Commons' Senior Care leadership team: Beulah Cohen, Dr. Shanthy Edward and Robin Walker.

Comptroller Topinka has one tough job right now, as she is responsible for day to day paying of bills for State of Illinois. She expressed strong support for community organizations that provide preventive services. It is welcome to see a leader in state government who understands how sustaining strong community organizations contributes to a stronger economy and society in the long run.

OF SERVICE

The Human Resources Director at Commons says she strives to be both “human” and “a resource”.

Similarly… Commons, as a human services organization, must be both “human” and “of service” to people. This is more than just PROVIDING services. This means we need to go out of our way sometimes.

For example, several Commons staff and board member recently toured Shriners Hospitals, simply because we did not know much about them. We came to learn that Shriners provides absolutely top-notch free health care for children with physical disabilities. We are now referring disabled children from our pre-schools to Shriners. It is a simple thing that is OF SERVICE to families. We might be the only way some parents would ever learn of Shriners – a jewel right here in our own city.

Speak Up!

A group of parents from Chicago Commons pre-schools just traveled to Springfield. This is the only way communities get the resources they need... residents must speak up.

At the capitol they talked to Representative Edward Acevedo (pictured). He voiced strong support for early learning investments.

State investments in early learning are critical to a neighborhood's prosperity. Let me count the ways:

1. Allows parents of limited means to go to work. The full cost of quality early learning programs would consume over 50% of many parents paychecks, essentially discouraging them from working at all.
2. Encourages children to become life-long learners. The key to our future as a city, state and country is that everyone become an effective life long learner.
3. Builds a sense of community among parents, children, volunteers and staff. Each pre-school really is a learning community. This sense of community is powerful and helps overcome the neagtive social behaviors present in our neighborhoods.

Social Networking

Before there was social networking there was.... well, social networking. Building strong relationships has always been the key to improving neighborhoods.

Thanks to all who helped organize the West Humboldt "BEEP Expo" at Orr High School this past weekend. Over 300 people attended! Every neighborhood entrepreneur who paid for a booth made a profit by selling their product. Parents who attended made connections that will help their family.