Guilford Parent Leader Network
The Guilford Parent Leader Network (GPLN) is an integral part of the decision-making structure for Ready for School, Ready for Life (Ready Ready). Families with children ages 0-8 who participate are valued consultants, partners, and change agents who work on priorities important to their families, and other families in Guilford County.
The Guilford Parent Leader Network is part of the Early Childhood Learning and Innovation Network for Communities (EC-LINC) — a network of partners with a shared goal to support families and improve results for young children in communities across the country.
Fourteen communities working to build effective early childhood systems are EC-LINC members, including Guilford County.
Interested in learning more about the GPLN?
Contact Yayra Adjrah at yayraa@getreadyguilford.org
Meetings are held on the third Monday of the month from
7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom
GPLN members elect a steering committee to provide leadership to monthly meetings, strategic planning, and more. Steering committee members shared their thoughts about the value they find in the GPLN. You can watch this short video, or visitt our YouTube channel for more videos featuring steering committee members.
Leadership Training
Parents and caregivers who participate in the GPLN have the opportunity to attend leadership training sessions following the Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) framework. Rooted in the belief that parents are among the real experts best equipped to solve issues affecting their children and families, COFI training takes place in phases to help parents identify their needs, goals, and action plans, and build teams to accomplish those goals.
Interested in joining the next COFI cohort? The training is six weeks, with a 2.5 hour class each week. We are currently using a hybrid model. You can sign up here and Ready Ready staff will contact you.
Fathers Ready to Grow
Fathers Ready to Grow is a recent addition to the GPLN. Here, dads meet to offer support and networking. Connecting with other fathers provides a platform to exchange experiences, challenges, and successes while creating a sense of camaraderie. Through networking, dads can break traditional stereotypes, redefine modern fatherhood, and forge relationships with others to enrich their parenting journey and positively impact their children’s lives.
Father’s Ready to Grow meets virtually the second Monday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m.
Board Leadership Academy
The Board Leadership Academy prepares parent leaders for community board service. GPLN members have the opportunity to attend three-month workshop sessions. With sessions about board composition, funding, and Robert’s Rules of Order, these parent leaders are equipped with the skills and knowledge to be better advocates and primed to join committees and boards in Guilford County.
GPLN in the community
GPLN members attend the Family Engagement and Leadership Coalition spring meeting in Greensboro in May 2023. It was a chance for them to network with other parent leaders, honor family leaders and their contributions, and create strategic plans for the future of family engagement and leadership in early childhood.
The new Steering Committee members joined about 30 members of the GPLN, their families, and Ready Ready staff members for a Mix N’ Mingle event at Keeley Park on July 17, 2022.
Guilford Parent Leader Network (GPLN) members joined other childhood advocates in Raleigh on April 20, 2023, for a rally on child care costs and educator wages. More than 500 people urged lawmakers to support high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care in North Carolina.
GPLN member Janina Holt organized a drive-through event with a focus on early childhood literacy on March 30, 2022. In the morning, about 30 families picked up free literacy materials at Guilford Child Development (GCD) in Greensboro, which included books, information about the Basics Guilford, and art supplies.
Family voice guides our work
Learn more about the Manifesto for Race Equity and Parent Leadership in Early Childhood that helps guide the GPLN’s work.
Ready for School, Ready for Life believes in being led by family voice. It’s one of our values and principles.
As defined by families and reflective of our community’s diversity, authentic family voice is engaged consistently and intentionally in our work. Families serve as decision-makers, partners, and change agents. We equip families to serve as strong advocates for themselves, their neighbors, and Guilford County’s children and families.