Join us!
Parents Organizations
To Become a Member:
Fill out organizational membership form and questionnaire to assure that groups have parents in the lead. Sign onto partnering principles and policy agenda. (Organizational members must be reviewed and approved by UPLAN.)
Suggested annual donations for organizations:
Organization’s Budget Suggested Donation
Less than $75,000: $25
Budget of $75,000-$250,000: $50
Budget of $250,000-$500,000: $100
Budget of $500,000-$750,000: $150
Budget of $750,000 – 1 million: $250
Budget of $1-1.5 million: $350
Budget of more than $1.5 million: $500
Organizational Members can:
• Vote in major campaign decisions and in Governing Council elections.
• Have a parent leader run to be part of the Governing Council.
• Participate in meetings for members. Participate in the writing, editing and reviewing of publications, and policy and campaign statements and recommendations.
• Attend UPLAN events, including the annual gathering.
• Be featured/listed in UPLAN materials, including the website, social media and e-blasts.
• Access and contribute to UPLAN trainings and resources.
• Apply for member support and travel funds (if funding allows).
Responsibilities of Organizational Members:
• Can – but don’t have to -sign onto position statements, letters on a case-by-case basis.
• Can mobilize around UPLAN actions.
As members of the United Parent Leaders Action Network, we agree to the following principles:
1. Our network strives to be led by low- to moderate-income parents and parents of color. We work to elevate and amplify the voices of low- to moderate-income parents and parents of color on the decisions that affect their lives. We make sure that these voices of those most affected own and make decisions about their stories, their analysis, their solutions and their victories.
2. Within this partnership, we put network and movement building ahead of any organizational identity. We are building a common set of goals and strategies appropriate to building the leadership, participation and influence of parent leaders at the national level.
3. We value relationships and listening to all voices, especially those that have systematically been made quiet.
4. We are committed to building an analysis in our work, intentionally examining issues such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, ability, language, and age. We reflect and evaluate our practices as we seek to challenge injustice, be it in ourselves, our organizations, our communities and our movements.
5. We agree to operate with each other openly and honestly and reflect organizational ethics at all times.
6. We recognize that leadership development happens at all times. We are conscious of sharing power and operate with a collective leadership ethic.
7. We support our collective work by sharing views, information, skills, strategies, relationships and opportunities and we agree to be part of a learning community.
8. We will work together with other parent leadership organizations across difference and tactical range.
Thank you to the Dignity in Schools Campaign for your inspiration on these “partnering principles”.
Dear Organizations/Initiatives
We invite you to become part of the United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN) – a parent-led action network of parent leaders and parent leadership initiatives across the nation, united to build a powerful voice to influence policies and programs that matter to families and children, especially families with young children. UPLAN parent leaders are low- and moderate-income parents, parents of color, immigrants, grandparents raising grandchildren: parents who truly know what families and communities need in order to succeed and thrive.
UPLAN was formed to create national impact and now more than ever, we need to come together to stand up for children and families. All of our member organizations/initiatives have parents in the lead, setting the agenda, building power and working to make change on behalf of children and families. Across the country, policies and practices are harming our communities and it is time, now, for us to form a united voice, to coordinate calls to action, and for the first time, to have parents in the driver’s seat setting and implementing a national parent leader agenda.
While we have a broad policy change agenda, our four priority areas in which we seek policy change currently are: Immigration Reform, Early Care and Education (including Childcare), Education K-12, and Economic Security (including Food Security). Our most immediate policy focus areas are: 1) calling for a new federal Office of Parent Engagement, 2) increasing resources for and affordability of early care and education, 3) protecting immigrant families, and 4) implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in a way that supports these goals.
Also, we seek to increase the capacity of organizations to build parent leadership. UPLAN will convene parent leaders and leadership groups to learn from each other and share the best of leadership development and organizing. We will offer training on parent leadership, organizing and policy issues from a parent’s perspective.
Please contact us with any questions at info@unitedparentleaders.org or 312-226-5141. There is no better time to stand up for children and families!