Nineteen Parents Step Up to Lead Change for Jacksonville’s Children

Nineteen Parents Step Up to Lead Change for Jacksonville’s Children

Nineteen parent leaders have embarked on a 20-week journey to strengthen their leadership and community engagement skills as part of Cohort VII of Parents Who Lead (PWL) — a one-of-a-kind program empowering parents to become advocates and changemakers for children across Jacksonville.

Rooted in Connection and Action

Parents Who Lead was launched in 2018 after a Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) survey revealed a striking truth: 93.8% of Duval County parents didn’t know who their school board representative was. In response, JPEF joined forces with Duval County Public Schools and the Kids Hope Alliance to create an inclusive, nonpartisan leadership program that helps parents understand city and school systems and how to make them work better for all children.

Over the course of 20 weeks, participants receive free training in advocacy, communication, and leadership. The program gives parents the tools and confidence to engage decision-makers, collaborate across communities, and create positive, lasting change.

A Space for Every Voice

PWL doesn’t require allegiance to any political or social viewpoint. Instead, it creates a space where parents from all backgrounds and beliefs come together to learn how systems operate — and how to make them more effective for every child. Each cohort becomes a living example of what civic collaboration can look like when empathy, education, and action intersect. 

Turning Passion Into Impact

Every Parents Who Lead participant completes a capstone community project that reflects their personal vision for improving the lives of Jacksonville’s children.

Past graduates have: 

  • Revived a dormant Parent-Teacher Organization at an elementary school
  • Helped students connect with local history
  • Created developmental toolkits and resources for families
  • Guided parents through the complexities of IEPs * Built stronger connections among neighbors through shared advocacy and engagement

The Results Are Measurable — and Transformative

Independent research by New York University confirms what participants already know: the program works. Parents who complete PWL show dramatic increases in their civic engagement and confidence: 

  • 88.6% report civic confidence after completing the program (vs. 60.9% prior)
  • 85% demonstrate greater civic knowledge (vs. 54.9% prior))
  • 100% know who their elected officials are (vs. 40.9% prior)

Welcoming the 2025 Cohort

The newest group of parents joining this movement for change includes:

  • Malinda Aguilar
  • Claudine Akondeng
  • Brittany Beimourtrusting
  • Tayzhana Blackmon
  • Teanetta Brandon
  • James Clark
  • Kristen Fitz
  • Yanel Gonzalez
  • Carmella Holmes-Weaver
  • Michelle Hughes
  • Rodina Hughes
  • Lindsay Joseph
  • Tim Kerr
  • Rachel Limonta
  • Sabrina Mason
  • Monique Michelle
  • Miosotis C. Silva-Betancourt
  • Martina Williams
  • Tamika Wolfe-McKenzie

These 19 parents represent the next generation of community leadership — everyday citizens learning to make extraordinary impact.