For Gina Jackson, advocating for causes is nothing new: “I come from parents (who) were very active in the civil rights movement.  (They) were my role models—if you don’t like something, do something about it!”

Jackson, a single mother to Samuel, 5, Jasmine, 11, Erika, 21, and Shaughn, 23, became involved with Parent Voices after she saw an ad about Stand for Children.  “I called (and) the Parent Voices coordinator said there was room on the bus to go to Sacramento and tell the governor what we think.”  She’s been actively involved with Parent Voices ever since.

“Not the only one”

Before she found Parent Voices, Jackson says, “I felt so alone in my day-to-day struggles. You’re just so overwhelmed, working 9 to 5, cooking dinner, helping with home-work. At my first Parent Voices meeting, I was like, ‘Wow, I’m not the only one!’  It was very inspiring, to not just know you’re not alone, but that you have strength in numbers.”

Jackson recently went with Parent Voices to testify before a legislative budget committee. “I was hoping to get the SMI (income ceiling for child care subsidies) raised, so I could get a raise in my job.” The raise would have brought her above the income ceiling, so “I would have had to pay $1,200 a month for day care.” As a former CalWORKs client, “I told them if they didn’t raise the SMI, that would jeopardize my whole living situation.”

“My purpose in life”

Recently Jackson lost her job. “(Now) my efforts with Parent Voices will increase because I have more time and energy,” she says. “I had a life-altering experience at Stand for Children’s Day,” she adds.  “I realized that this was my purpose in life. Now everything I do incorporates Parent Voices.”

For example, “I was at Home Depot, wearing a sticker that said ‘I am voting for children.’ I ended up getting into a 20-minute conversation with the cashier about voting for children. When she got to the polls, I know that conversation was in the back of her mind.” 

Knowledge is power!

Decisions in the state budget have a direct impact on you and your family.  Please join us at our annual budget advocacy training, Knowledge is Power to learn how YOU can influence the budget process and help stop horrible cuts to child care and other social services!

Knowledge is Power Budget Advocacy Training:  Jan 24, Sacramento; Feb 28, Fresno; TBD Bay Area

Parent Voices contacts:

Statewide: Mary Ignatius, 415-882-0234. mignatius@rrnetwork.org
Alameda (Hayward): Jennifer Greppi, 510-584-3115,
jenniferf@4c-alameda.org
Alameda (Oakland): Janet Zamudio, 510-658-7353,
janet@bananasinc.org
Amador: Brenda Bullington, 209-223-1624, ext. 109,
Brenda@hrcccr.org
Butte: Jane Haberman, 530-895-1677,
jhaberman@valleyoakchildren.org
Calaveras: Cheryl Berg, 209-754-1075, ext. 115, cberg@hrcccr.org
Contra Costa: Candy Duperroir, 925-778-4739, candy@cocokids.org
El Dorado: Heather Della Ripa, 530-541-5848, hscfcslt@pacbell.net
Fresno: Lourdes Hernandez, 559-456-1100, louh@cvcsn.org
Los Angeles: Christine Giron, 323-421-2602, cgiron@crystalstairs.org
Marin: Leah Benz, 415-491-5776, leah@mc3.org
Sacramento: Rachel Minnick, 916-369-3387,
Rachel.Minnick@childaction.org
San Francisco: Maria Luz Torre, 415-343-3383,
parentvoices@childrenscouncil.org
San Mateo: Nelly Puhachevsky, 650-655-6770, ext. 283,
nelly@sanmateo4cs.org
Santa Barbara: contact statewide organizers
Santa Clara: Mario Del Castillo, 408-487-0747, mariod@4c.org
Solano: Kathy Lago, 707-864-4620, klago@solanosfcs.org
Sonoma: Lorie Siebler, 707-522-1413, lsiebler@sonoma4cs.org