Following months of deep dialogue and a thorough process of information gathering, parent leaders from across the country are sharing key issues affecting children and families with President Joe Biden -- offering to partner with the president and answer his call for community voices at decision-making tables as policies are built and shaped in his first 100 days in office and beyond.

Recommendations were reached through a series of “Dear Mr. President” Parent Policy Tables -- virtual events, convened by the National Parent Leadership Institute (NPLI). NPLI is a non-partisan, parent-centered, anti-racist organization that partners with parents and communities to equip families with the civic skills, knowledge and opportunities to be leading advocates for children at home, at school and in the community. The personal and collective voice in the Open Letter to President Biden, represents urban, suburban, rural, Sovereign Nations and communities off the mainland -- equally diverse in racial, cultural, economic and language backgrounds. 

“I believe we have moved past what we, as a country, have come to understand as parent involvement, parent engagement and parent focus groups. Parent voice is where we are now as an overarching concept. Parent voice is a necessity in shaping policy, law, programs and systems that encourage the health, safety and upward mobility of all families,” said Melvette Hill, Connecticut State Director of the Parent Leadership Training Institute, who is also a national consultant on policy and parent leadership, adding, “Parents must have seats at decision-making tables. It is not an option; it should be a requirement.”

Planning for parent policy tables was already underway prior to the president's inauguration in a concerted effort to ensure that parent voices would be heard. NPLI moderated three tables early this year with more than 2,500 participants and 16 parent leader panelists from Connecticut, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, New York, Washington and the Wind River Indian Reservation, discussing specific issues important to families while crafting community-informed recommendations for the president to act on. In addition, surveys were distributed to more than 11,000 families within the NPLI network. 

From a survey participant: “El futuro es incierto. El presente es caótico hoy en día. Pero juntos los dos los podemos transformar y tener mejores oportunidades hoy en el presente y un futuro mejor el día de mañana,” which translates to: “The future is uncertain. The present is chaotic today. But together we can both transform them and have better opportunities today in the present and a better future tomorrow.”

Across the communities, parents agreed strongly on the following four recommendations to share with the president for consideration:

1. Embed parent voice as a consumer of policy and program.
2. Assure race equity in all policies and programs.
3. Build and guarantee education excellence for all.
4. Develop and undergird child care quality and access.

In addition to the four areas of concern, two equally important policies and considerations entered the discussion and are being shared with the president: the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and addressing the sovereignty of Native Peoples in relation to our current democracy.

“Parents are leading in our communities, are civically engaged on the local, state and now federal level,” said Donna Thompson-Bennett, Executive Director of NPLI. “We are ready to partner with President Biden and prepared to ensure that the voices of parents are front and center when priorities are determined, and policies are being introduced on behalf of children and families.”

To read the letter in its entirety.

Parents across the country are adding their support by signing the letter electronically here.

To learn more about NLPI.