This blog piece includes two narratives, one of DaSean Jones (Advocacy Captain and Ward 8 PLE Board member) and one of Christine Miller (Advocacy Captain and Ward 1 PLE Board member).  DaSean There is no easier way to build a strong sense of community than by getting to know your neighbors.  I had the chance […]

Ward 1Ward 8

I am a parent of three DC public school graduates, a grandmother of five current DC public school and public charter school scholars – two of whom have graduated. I’ve always been involved with the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs) my children attended.   As the PTA President of SEED Public Charter School of […]

Ward 7

For almost two years, I have had the privilege of serving as a PAVE Community Organizer.  Through this role, I’ve listened to powerful words and stories from parent leaders, learned about the rich history of DC and her influence on our nation, and walked the culture-filled streets of every ward.  It is through my time […]

Trigger Warning: This blog piece mentions multiple attempts of suicide.  My daughter almost died three times before I even knew that there was a problem.  To think that she attempted suicide three times before I could get her help is the reason why I lie awake at night.  I can’t help but reflect on all […]

Ward 8

Sometimes sharing my story feels like stumbling down a flight of stairs.  I start at the top, sharing all the good parts – like my spiritual growth and relationship with God, building my interests in the pre-med and public health field, and my deep family ties that have strengthened over time.  But then I share […]

Ward 7

As a native Washingtonian, I grew up attending schools in DC. To my teachers and school leaders, I was deemed gifted because I did well academically and had a higher-than-average IQ score.  It wasn’t until my early 30s that I realized that my teachers and school leaders did not recognize my true title. I wasn’t […]

Ward 1

As the city works to recover from COVID-19, PAVE parent leaders are calling for increased mental-health support funding with $6.4 million for expanded programming to at least 80 public schools, $4 million for community providers, and $10.8 million for social-emotional learning and trauma-informed training. Mental health needs among children and families were present before COVID-19. […]

Ward 8

Living in close quarters for the last year means that my 10-year-old, for the first time in his life, has unfiltered access to his parents’ very adult feelings and emotions. He experiences first-hand our disagreements when tensions are high, our gripes about work issues, our tears as we mourn loved ones lost, our anxiety over […]

Ward 5

Thursday, March 11, 2021 4 pm – 5 pm During this coffee chat we discussed President Biden’s Education Agenda and what it could mean for DC’s early childhood education and K-12 education. Khalilah Harris and Erin Robinson from Center for American Progress joined us to discuss what federal funding is expected and how it will […]

coffee chat

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 4 pm – 5 pm During this coffee chat, Ward 8 PAVE Parent Leaders met with their new State Board of Education Representative, Dr. Carlene Reid, to hear about her priorities and perspectives on parent leaders’ priorities, and engage in a discussion about how PAVE parent leaders can work with her […]

coffee chat

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 6 pm – 7:30 pm During this coffee chat we were joined by Charlene Roach-Glymph, the Associate Dean of Special Education at the Relay Graduate School of Education who shared best practices to support students with disabilities and their learning needs. We also discussed updates on special education issues and beyond […]

coffee chat

Thursday, February 18, 2021 4 pm – 5 pm During this coffee chat we discussed DC’s school-based mental health (SBMH) expansion! Tami Weerasingha-Cote from Children’s Law Center joined us to share the history of the program, what SBMH looks like, and what more needs to be done to provide equitable resources for all students and families across the […]

coffee chat

Thursday, February 4, 2021 4 pm –  5 pm During this coffee chat we learned how lawmakers set our budget and how to best address the growing income, wealth & racial inequalities in DC through tax policy. Joanna Blotner from Jews United for Justice and Qubilah Huddleston from DCFPI joined us to discuss how we […]

coffee chat

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 5:30 pm –  7:00 pm During this session, we focused on what the IDEA procedural safeguards are and how they have adapted during distant learning. Dan Davis, the Chief Student Advocate at the DC State Board of Education, walked us through common situations and how parents can navigate them with prompts […]

coffee chat

Thursday, January 21, 2021 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm During this coffee chat we received information about vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine! The coffee chat was led by Dr. Joelle Simpson, Medical Director for Emergency Preparedness at Children’s National and Emergency Department physician, and medical professionals from Children’s National Hospital! We covered how vaccines are […]

coffee chat

My family is lucky because virtual learning is okay. But it’s just that: okay. My daughter likes her teacher and participates in class often. We have stable internet and her school provided her with an iPad. My daughter’s teacher also gave us a tote bag filled with supplies that we can dig through during class, […]

Ward 5

What should a parent do when school opening may be around the corner and your child is doing better with remote learning?  That’s where I find myself with my 1st grader. Even before the pandemic, my daughter did not like going to school. She has never been a fan of classrooms or school, and while […]

Ward 7

For two years, I worked with youth exiting DC’s child welfare system. Reliable information on the child welfare system is purposely made scarce by DC leaders in an effort to avoid accountability, but in my experience, most young people left care without safe or stable housing, many had at least one child, and nearly all […]

Ward 7

There is a very distinct air that surrounds you when you live in financial stress. I grew up in a household with a single mother and three kids, and the anxiety over money was ever-present. When my oldest daughter entered the DC public school system in 2011, I recognized that distinction in the air: That […]

Ward 4

Lunes, 22 de febrero de 2021 4 pm – 5 pm Durante esta discusión nos acompañaron la Dra. Valderrama y el Dr. Gutiérrez de Children’s National, quienes compartieron información sobre la atención médica de las familias e información sobre las vacunas, ¡específicamente la vacuna COVID-19! ¡Mire el video completo aquí!

coffee chat