The mission of Bay Area PLAN (Parent Leadership Action Network) is to promote greater involvement in the complex and often intimidating educational process by training culturally and economically diverse parents to become better advocates for their children and to strengthen the parent organizations in their local schools.

In a series of training and leadership development courses, parent representatives partner with their schools and communities as champions for the same quality of education for all children within the school system regardless of race or what language may be spoken in the home or whatever the income. The needs in Bay Area schools are reflective of the cultural diversity of the state and PLAN develops leaders to help even the playing field.  Stand up parents become the voices for change as they present the real issues affecting children and families to the state legislature and school officials.  

On April 16 and 17, PLAN offered an intensive, two day, grassroots training for parents and community leaders in the Bay Area.  Among the many topics covered was an examination of the role that race and diversity play in the expanding educational crisis.  Empowered parents trained by PLAN seek to be involved in the total educational process.  Prior to training they may not have known how to do so and felt powerless in the political arena of the educational system.  Given insight into their rights as parents and armed with basic organizational skills, these parents are able to cross barriers in language and culture and present a united leadership front. 

Coming up this week, PLAN will offer an opportunity for families and community organizations in the Bay Area to learn effective ways to build and sustain parent leadership.  Partnering with the San Francisco Family Support Network (SFFSN) and First 5 San Francisco, participants will be introduced to other parent leaders, hear testimony as the effectiveness of the program and have an opportunity to connect with Family support providers from throughout the Bay Area.

Strong Leaders, Strong Families: Building Parent Leadership in Family Support Programs

Friday, April 30, 2010; 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

African American Art & Culture Complex

762 Fulton Street,  San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

For more info and to register on-line go to www.strongleaders.eventbrite.com, or download a flyer. Parent-specific flyers are also available: English, Spanish, Chinese.

Co-sponsored by PLAN, First Five San Francisco, and San Francisco Family Support Network (SFFSN), and made possible by the generous support of the S.H. Cowell Foundation.  

Looking to become active in your community?  Visit PLAN at www.parentactionnet.org.

The next membership meeting is on Thursday, May 21, call Patricia Rocha-Fernandez at (510) 444-7526, ext. 304 for information.  Rub elbows with community movers and shakers at the next East Bay Mix It Up mixer in May, 2010.  Open to anyone. Call (408) 605-4582 for information on date, time and location.