Join us!
Individual Parents
Fill out individual membership form (with built in commitments to follow the partnering values) and policy agenda.
Suggested annual donation: $10. However, if you cannot pay this you can choose to help with fundraising activities!
Individual Members can:
• Vote in major campaign decisions and in Governing Council elections.
• Have a parent leader run to be part of the Governing Council. One space on the Governing Council will be to represent individual members.
• 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.
• Access and contribute to UPLAN trainings and resources.
• Apply for member support and travel funds (if funding allows).
Responsibilities of Individual Members:
• Attend the annual gathering (if funding allows).
• Participate in membership meetings.
• Be committed to the vision and goals of UPLAN.
• Recruit new members.
• Vote in online surveys and UPLAN polls.
• Have participated in leadership training or be interested in participating in leadership training.
DEAR PARENT LEADERS
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!
Sincerely,