Course Info

Overview

Parent Leadership Initiative (PLI) offers 15-weekly evening sessions at no - cost to anyone who is selected to participant, with a light dinner and child care when needed. The session is from January to June. Parents will begin by identifying their personal passion and exploring their communities’ needs and resources. As time progresses, they will learn about civics, government, and advocacy. They are guided through a process to identify the needs in your community and to organize a step-by-step plan for a community project.

In addition, because we are a program of the Child Care Council Suffolk, Inc. we offer an opportunity to attend Advocacy Day at the state capital in Albany and view state government in action. There is also an annual conference as an opportunity to network with graduates across all PLI sites, community partners, elected officials, and guest speakers. PLI is supported by public and private financial contributions, which allow us to offer this program at no cost to the participants.

Some core issues that will be discussed include but are not limited to:

• Parents as change agents
• How government works
• Networks and coalitions
• Public policy and the law
• Exploring diversity in the group process
• Intentional use of language