When Parents Organize, Parents (and Schools) Win!

By JP Blasi, CfSI Development and Communications Fellow

On March 31, 2021, the Boston School Committee voted on the final draft of the budget for Boston Public Schools for 2021- 2022: $1.3 billion, the largest appropriation ever. After several days of digging into the details of the spreadsheets, SSYP leaders were thrilled to find that our three partner schools--Blackstone Elementary, Orchard Gardens K-8, and Hurley K-8--would be receiving a combined $1.3 million in additional funds. 

The news was especially surprising, since earlier draft budgets received by the three schools showed significant budget cuts, with one version of the budget seen by Orchard Garden leaders showing a $600,000 decrease. SSYP parent leaders and school teachers were alarmed by and mobilized to act, knowing that what was really needed was additional resources to overcome the learning losses and social and emotional needs caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

What caused this shift in the budget? Certainly, federal funding for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston from the American Rescue Plan made a big difference. But it is no surprise to those close to SSYP that our parent organizing team also played a major role in the change 

For the past five years, SSYP’s parent organizing group has been a growing presence in Boston. Through SSYP, close to 300 parents have built community through emotional support groups, technology workshops, English language classes and even Zumba workshops. These relationships have created social ties and confidence that have been critically important during the recent public health crisis. 

These connections have also given SSYP parents the courage to offer powerful speeches in front of politicians and BPS officials on budget matters. It wasn’t always like this. Rafaela Polanco, who leads the parent organizing effort, said “Just three years ago, many of the parents in the SSYP community were not even capable of giving their testimonies. They felt too insecure to advocate for their children and their school. We were fearful in part because we are all still deeply rooted in our culture. Some of us may even be undocumented.”  

Polanco continued, “I used to live in a shelter when I started at SSYP, and I remember when they told me to give testimony I’d hide or make up any excuse because I felt like I couldn't speak up against the BPS or the government. I had to educate myself and it was a process, but I learned I could still advocate even [while living] in a shelter.” 

Another person who has felt the impact SSYP and parent organizing has had on her life is Glenda Torres. A mother of five whose children go to the Blackstone Elementary School, Torres lost her job as a record manager in downtown Boston when the pandemic hit. 

Inspired by her children and Polanco, Torres called to talk about the parent mentor program. “I remember telling Rafaela, ‘I don't know if I can do it,’” Torres said. She went on, “I'm afraid because I've never really had experience working with children in a classroom with teachers on my own, but my good friend convinced me that this was something I was very much equipped to do. So after procrastinating for days, I applied, and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.” Just months after losing her job and her family having COVID-19, Torres interviewed for the Parent Mentor position and was accepted. “I finally felt a sigh of relief and a little weight lifted off my shoulders. I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Marioska Medina is a Parent Mentor at the Hurley K-8 School. “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I had a job where I worked more than 12 hours a day; with this, I could support our home. Losing this job, I felt very depressed and without the strength to continue,” Medina shared.

Medina said being a mentor mother in the school has changed her life. Her current roles include acting as the teacher’s aide on Zoom, supporting students one-on-one during their virtual independent learning time, and working with the library. “Now I can understand what is happening at my daughters' school. I belong to the School Parents Council. I motivated other parents to get involved in the school. I advocated for improvements in [all] the schools,” Medina said. “I have testified at Boston School Committee meetings so that they do not cut my school’s budget. Today, I can see my change and my growth in defending the rights of my daughters,” Marioska said with pride. 

Through all the parent engagement programs, SSYP is developing leaders and equipping parents with information on many topics. Rafaela Polanco shared, “City Life/Vida Urbana taught a workshop with families about housing rights and evictions. There are coalitions that are teaching us about better jobs within the community.” 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and schools went remote, many parents needed training on technologies for the new virtual world. SSYP started offering tech classes every Thursday, with over70 participants attending each meeting. On Wednesdays, there are English classes with 22 parents studying the language, all at different levels of difficulty. On Mondays, more than 100 parents participate in SES (Social and Emotional Support) meetings, learning coping techniques to manage anxiety, depression, and familial issues. “It gives families a dose of hope every Monday,” said Polanco. 

Polanco concluded, “Through this education, we feel stronger and our community is stronger.”