Author: Lydia Vi

Celebrating PTA’s Legacy of Advocacy

Posted on by Lydia Vi

A Message from President Heather Ippolito

Legacy. As I reflect on the meaning of “legacy,” I think of our PTA founders. Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Alice McLellan Birney were women from affluent families. They didn’t have children working in coal mines or in factories, but they saw these children and knew that it was wrong. They then used their influence to partner with mothers, fathers, teachers, and community members to advocate for child labor and safety laws with their newly formed National Congress of Mothers.

Selena Sloan Butler was an African-American educator. When her community lacked a kindergarten for Black children, she created one at home—launching a lifelong mission to improve schools and protect every child’s right to learn. She formed the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers and these two groups officially combined in 1970 to become the PTA we know and love today.

What do these three women have in common? They have a legacy of: 

  • serving children and families in their community
  • seeing a need and doing something about it
  • raising their voices to ensure that children and youth received the resources they needed to reach their full potential.

PTA has a proud legacy that we celebrate every year on February 17th. We share the stories of these women and the volunteers who have served after them. We talk about the advocacy our organization has done from the creation of kindergarten to hot school lunches to arts education and the formation of the juvenile justice system. We pass the hat for a free-will offering that benefits local, state, and national PTA. And hopefully we have cake or another sweet treat to thank our volunteers for being part of our organization!

This month, I’d love for you to think about your PTA legacy and what you want that to look like. Are you wanting to take your volunteerism to the next level and run for an office in your unit, council, or district? Or are you willing to apply to serve on state or National PTA? Is advocacy your legacy? Are you willing to speak up for children and families to ensure that ALL of our students have what they need to be successful? Are you in a position to give funds to your local or state PTA? So many good things happen when we have the financial support necessary to do programming, training, and advocacy.

Any way you choose to create and craft your legacy, I’d like to thank you. Thank you for joining our organization! Thank you for giving your time, talent, and treasure to benefit your community, and the students and families who live there. Thank you for continuing PTA’s legacy today, tomorrow, together!

Happy Founders’ Day,

Heather Ippolito
California State PTA President

A Message from President-Elect Will Sanford

February is a meaningful month for PTA – one that honors our history, highlights our ongoing efforts to positively impact education today, and affirms our continued commitment to meet the future needs of children and families. We celebrate our founders, remarkable women, who 129 years ago started our organization, before they had the right to vote. For more than half of our nation’s history, PTA has championed the well-being of children. We celebrate the impact we have collectively made, including implementation of child labor laws, a free appropriate public education for all, late start high school and much, much more. Today, we are working to ensure that every child can learn in a safe, healthy school environment where all individuals are treated with respect. We have been, and continue to be, a strong advocacy voice for all children and families.

The PTA has always been about leaving the world a better place.. We consider how our actions today will impact future generations-supporting evidence-based practices, building inclusive communities and ensuring that all children have the resources and support they need to make our world a better place.

As PTA members, we are charged with raising awareness, fostering inclusion, seeking support, and actively recruiting members. At times, it may feel as though we face significant challenges in making our voices heard. Yet consider the late 1800s, when communicating across our state took days, weeks or even months- and only reached those who could read and were willing to pay attention to children’s issues.

Our founders believed that all children should have the opportunity to live a healthy life, receive an education, and contribute to their community. It is our turn to continue and expand the legacy they began, ensuring that future generations inherit a world that we would all want to live in.

Join us in celebrating Founders’ Day as we honor the efforts of those who began this work. Help us continue to expand our reach today so that, tomorrow, all children and families can benefit from our collective efforts.

I appreciate everything you do-whether it’s reading to your children, getting them to school on time to maximize learning, supporting your neighbors and teachers, or ensuring all families feel seen and included. You make us strong…today, tomorrow and especially together.

Will Sanford
California State PTA President-Elect

Helping Your Student Open Doors to College and Careers

Posted on by Lydia Vi

Message from California State PTA Sponsor, College Board

As a parent, you play a powerful role in shaping your child’s future. When families are engaged—asking questions, encouraging exploration, and helping students plan ahead—students are more likely to graduate from high school ready for college and careers. At the College Board, we believe access and opportunity grow when parents and schools work together.

One meaningful way to support your student is by helping them challenge themselves academically in high school. Advanced Placement (AP) courses give students the chance to tackle college-level work, build confidence, and develop critical thinking and time-management skills. Research consistently shows that students who take AP are more likely to enroll in college and graduate on time. Beyond academics, AP can help students stand out in college admissions and, in many cases, earn college credit, saving families time and money.

Parents can also help students connect today’s coursework to tomorrow’s goals. BigFuture, the College Board’s free planning platform, offers tools to explore careers, search for colleges, understand financial aid, and track important milestones. Through the BigFuture Scholarships program, students can earn chances for scholarship awards simply by completing key college-planning steps—like building a college list or submitting the FAFSA®—no GPA or test score required.

Your encouragement matters. Talk with your student about their interests, meet with school counselors, and explore AP and BigFuture together. By staying involved and informed, you help expand what’s possible—giving your student greater access to higher education, meaningful careers, and the opportunities they deserve after high school.

California State PTA is a nonprofit and non-commercial volunteer organization and does not endorse any product, publication, or business associated with sponsorship partners.

Apply Now for Graduating Senior Scholarships 

Posted on by Lydia Vi

By the California State Scholarships and Grants Committee

Do you know a student who might be interested in applying for one of California State PTA’s Graduating High School Senior Scholarships? Now is the time to apply; the application deadline is February 1! 

Students submit one application for the $1,000 Volunteer Service Scholarship; from that applicant pool, two students planning to enter a medical field will also receive the additional $500 Dr. Ralph E. White Scholarship.

  • $1,000 Volunteer Service Scholarship – This scholarship recognizes graduating seniors for their volunteer service in schools and communities and provides funds to enroll in courses at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools. Applicants must be PTA members graduating from a California high school between now and June 30, 2026. Seniors who are graduating from a non-PTA high school may still apply if they are serving on the board of a council or district PTA. 
  • $500 Dr. Ralph E. White Graduating Senior Scholarship – Honoring the volunteer and public-service legacy of Dr. Ralph E. White and his wife, Eleanor, this additional scholarship provides $500 each to two successful applicants of the Volunteer Service Scholarship who intend to pursue a career in a medical field. 

Be sure to include the following items in the application:

  • Proof of PTA membership
  • Descriptive essay fully answering the questions asked regarding PTA volunteering and experience, service to other organizations or individuals, career plans, job experience, and any other information the student feels would be valuable to the scholarship selection committee.
  • Two completed reference forms and letters are required, written specifically for this application. The first reference is to be written by a community volunteer leader unrelated to the student and who has supervised the student’s volunteer service. The second reference is to be written by a member of the high school faculty.

Applications, reference forms/letters, and all supporting documents must be submitted online at capta.org/graduating-high-school-seniors by 11:59 pm February 1, 2026. All applicants are notified of their application results in March. Scholarship winners will receive a letter of congratulations from California State PTA along with a check.

For additional information, please visit the Graduating Seniors Scholarship web page or email the CA State PTA Scholarships & Grants Committee at scholarships@capta.org.

All applications must be submitted online. Find all information at capta.org/scholarships/graduating-high-school-seniors. 

Application window closes Feb 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Your Voice Is Powerful—Here’s How to Use It

Posted on by Lydia Vi

By the California State PTA Education Commission and Legislative Advocacy Team

Speak up. Show up. Use your voice. Because when we work together, every child’s potential becomes reality.

Every time you speak up for your child, you’re using your voice as an advocate. Have you asked your child’s teacher for extra help with math? Spoken to the principal about crosswalk safety? Contacted your school board about budget priorities? That’s your voice in action—and it matters.

We use our voices every day to advocate for what we want, need, and believe in – at doctor’s appointments, at work, and in our communities. Advocacy isn’t reserved for professionals in suits roaming the halls of Congress. It’s something we do naturally.

PTA helps you direct that voice to support the children and families who need it most—and amplifies it so decision-makers hear you.

Advocacy Driven by Our Members

In a time of deep polarization and frustration, PTA offers something rare: a nonpartisan, nonsectarian space where people can unite around shared values for children. Outside interests or individuals don’t drive our advocacy—you drive it.

California State PTA’s legislative work is guided by resolutions and position statements created and adopted by our members. When delegates vote at our Annual Meeting, they set the direction for statewide advocacy. This means the issues we champion come directly from families and communities across California—not from any political party or outside agenda.

Using Your Voice at Every Level

How can you use your voice through the PTA? Members have opportunities at every level—from your own school to the halls of Congress.

Individual advocacy begins at home and in the classroom. When you attend a parent-teacher conference, ask questions at a school board meeting, or share concerns with your principal, you’re using your voice for your child. Your personal experience and perspective matter—no one knows your child and community better than you do.

Local PTAs translate individual concerns into collective action that can support all children. Together, members address campus-specific needs: safer drop-off procedures, healthier cafeteria options, and more inclusive programming. Local units, councils, and districts also build relationships with school district officials and city councils, ensuring families have a seat at every table where decisions about children are made.

State advocacy amplifies your voice in Sacramento. California State PTA has championed landmark legislation protecting children and supporting families—from later school start times to safe schools protections. When local PTAs identify patterns affecting students statewide, state advocacy teams work to support laws, regulations, and policies to create impact.

National PTA coordinates advocacy across all fifty states, speaking before Congress and federal agencies on issues like education funding, child nutrition, and school safety. Each year, National PTA publishes policy priorities that guide our collective work, ensuring millions of members speak for every child with one voice.

Your Voice Matters

The beauty of PTA advocacy is that every level strengthens the others. When you mention a concern to your local PTA president, you might spark a statewide initiative. When you sign up for action alerts, your voice joins thousands pressing for change.

You don’t need special training or expertise. You already have everything you need: your experience as a parent, family member, educator, or community member who cares about children.

PTA was founded in 1897 by women who understood the power of individual action to change the world for all children. That legacy continues through you.

Take the Next Step

Ready to use your voice for every child? Join us at California State PTA’s Legislative Conference (LegCon) on February 2-3, 2026 in Sacramento for two transformative days of legislative training and direct advocacy. You’ll learn how the legislative process works, connect with fellow advocates from across the state, and meet with lawmakers who make decisions affecting our children every day.

Can’t make it to Sacramento? Connect with the California State PTA Legislation and Advocacy Team throughout 2026. Sign up for action alerts, attend virtual trainings, and add your voice to campaigns that matter. Visit capta.org/advocacy to learn more.

Speak up. Show up. Use your voice. Because when we work together, every child’s potential becomes reality.

Share the Gift of PTA this New Year

Posted on by Lydia Vi

By the California State PTA Convention Commission

As we welcome a new year, we are reminded that every January brings fresh opportunities to renew our commitment to children, families, and public education. The Gift of PTA is not just something we give during one season; it is a year-round dedication to advocacy, service, and community connection that continues to strengthen schools across California.

The new year is an ideal time to reflect on our impact and set intentions for the months ahead. Through our collective efforts, PTA members give the gift of leadership, collaboration, and support, creating meaningful change in the lives of students and families.

Ways to Share the Gift of PTA in the New Year

  1. Grow Our Membership: A new year brings new families and fresh occasions to invite parents, caregivers, educators, and community members to join PTA and be part of a united voice advocating for every child’s success.
  2. Recognize Excellence: The PTA Honorary Service Awards and other recognitions provide an opportunity to start the year by celebrating individuals and organizations whose dedication makes a difference. Recognition reinforces the value of service and inspires continued involvement.
  3. Give the Gift of Time and Talent: Whether volunteering at events, mentoring emerging leaders, or sharing professional expertise, every contribution matters. The new year is a perfect time to encourage members to step into leadership roles and strengthen PTA at every level.
  4. Empower Student Voices: Programs such as Reflections and student leadership opportunities allow young people to express their creativity and perspectives. Supporting student voices helps develop confident, engaged leaders for the future.
  5. Build Stronger Connections: Strengthen partnerships with local agencies, civic leaders, and businesses to expand PTA’s reach and impact. Collaboration ensures sustainable programs and reinforces PTA’s role as a trusted community partner.
  6. Celebrate and Share Impact: Share your PTA’s successes through newsletters, social media, and community outreach. Highlighting accomplishments not only celebrates progress but also invites others to join the mission.

As we look ahead, the new year offers a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. Each act of service, every partnership formed, and every member engaged represents a gift that strengthens our schools and communities.

Together, we enter the year with optimism, dedication, and a shared vision for the future.

We look forward to seeing you at our California State PTA Convention 2026 in Fresno where every voice, every member, and every gift continues to make a difference.

Extreme Heat is Getting Education Advocates Steamed

Posted on by Lydia Vi

By the California State PTA Education Commission and Legislative Advocacy Team

Explore climate solutions for schools at LegCon26, February 2-3

About 20 percent of California schools lack air conditioning, and in many others, the AC is ineffective. In Sacramento in 2022, children suffered from heat exposure when the air conditioning in the cafeteria broke down, and they spent their lunch hour outside during a 116-degree heatwave. On a day with 90-degree temperatures, children at an elementary school in Watts could not use the playground because the unshaded equipment and play surfaces were so hot they could cause third-degree burns. Extreme heat is already disrupting learning in California—and PTAs can help lead solutions.

These school experiences are a good reminder that our weather is becoming more extreme, and it’s happening because the surface atmosphere of the planet is getting warmer. Those temperature increases threaten children, their health and their learning, in ways that are getting more attention. Those impacts have prompted stronger climate advocacy on the part of the California State PTA, including joining the Climate Ready Schools Coalition and assigning a dedicated climate advocate to consider state legislation and coordinate our advocacy. 

It’s about kids’ health and learning

“Children are more vulnerable to the effects of heat than adults,” the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation concluded in a 2023 policy brief entitled Protecting Californians with Heat-Resilient Schools. “…they can get dehydrated more quickly in extreme temperatures. Children also face a heightened risk of some health conditions, including asthma, when they experience extremely high temperatures.”

These issues often arise at school, where the risks of heat exposure are heightened in outdoor play areas without shade. In school buildings without working air conditioning, indoor temperatures can soar well above recommended maximums of about 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Research shows that students’ ability to learn, measured in part by performance on assessments, suffers when schools cannot maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.

PTAs can take action

At our Legislation Conference on February 2 and 3 in Sacramento, attendees will learn more about California State PTA’s expanded climate advocacy efforts from an expert panel who will address Environmental Impacts on Student Success. The panel will feature Stanford pediatrician Lisa Patel, who will discuss the health and learning impacts of extreme heat on children. To explore school-specific concerns and actions PTA members can take in response, the other speakers will include Mitch Steiger, Legislative Representative for the California Federation of Teachers, plus a representative from Green Schoolyards. 

Join us at LegCon26 (Feb 2–3, Sacramento) to learn practical steps your PTA can take—then advocate together at the Capitol. Visit our website to register now and learn more about LegCon26.

PTA Winter Spotlight: Capistrano Council of PTSAs

Posted on by Lydia Vi

By the California State PTA Education Commission and Legislative Advocacy Team

Every PTA should have advocacy on the agenda of their meetings—because when families know more, students receive more. That’s why the Capistrano Council of PTSAs represents 50 school communities. Each PTA unit is asked to appoint an advocacy representative who attends monthly Council Advocacy meetings and brings critical information back to their site. 

Every year, our presidents and advocates travel to Sacramento with a single purpose: advocate for all children. At home, Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) staff join our monthly meetings to explain the issues that shape our schools—budget, facilities, safety, special education, and Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). In order to keep our community fully informed, California State PTA and National PTA “Take Action”… Alerts are shared through email and our dedicated WhatsApp channel.

For more than two decades, CUCPTSA has built a strong, productive working partnership with CUSD leadership. The council president and council advocacy chair meet monthly with the superintendent to raise concerns early, solve problems collaboratively, and keep the focus where it belongs: students first.

During COVID, this partnership delivered real results. CUCPTSA led the push to use COVID relief funds to reduce class sizes at a time when elementary classes averaged 30:1 and secondary classes averaged 35:1. Working with the superintendent, the teachers’ union, and the classified employees’ union, we secured smaller class sizes through 2025 and added PE teachers at every elementary school, positions which did not exist previously. The outcome was unmistakable: Capistrano students avoided the deep learning loss seen across the nation and were able to catch up academically.

Each April, our Council Advocacy meeting becomes an Educational panel, bringing elected leaders directly to families. Last year we welcomed Congressman Mike Levin, former Senator Josh Newman, and Assemblywoman Laurie Davies’s Chief of Staff, Donna Cleary.

Beyond the panel, we equip our advocates with monthly local actionable items—practical questions to strengthen communication and accountability at every school site:
 • How are Prop 28 funds being used at your school?
 • How can students earn a Civic Engagement seal—and is that information reaching them?
 • Does your school have School Site Council meetings?

To expand access to information, the Advocacy team also maintains an Instagram account, @CAPO_A_Team, where updates, resources, and action items are shared regularly.

From 2020–2022, Capistrano PTSA—together with the school district, teachers, and classified staff—launched the statewide Raise the Base campaign. The mission was simple and urgent: increase Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) base funding so every California student receives more, without raising taxes. More than 200 superintendents joined this effort. The campaign name came from one honest insight: every roadblock heard in Sacramento pointed back to Proposition 98 and the LCFF base formula: If the base is the problem, raising the base is the solution.

While the campaign has not yet produced an increase to LCFF base funding, it has succeeded in changing the conversation; It has built awareness, bringing together stakeholders and elected leaders. And that momentum continues.

Capistrano PTSA remains committed to advocating for a stronger LCFF base by eliminating categorical programs and one-time dollars, shifting those funds into stable, ongoing base funding for every student.

Because when the base rises, every child rises.

The California Attorney General: Protecting Students and Schools

Posted on by Lydia Vi

By the California State PTA Education Commission and Legislative Advocacy Team

The California Attorney General (AG) serves as the state’s chief legal officer and top law enforcement official, with significant influence over issues affecting children, families, and schools throughout California. This elected position, chosen by voters statewide every four years, leads the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and shapes policies and enforcement actions that affect student rights and educational equity statewide.

The Attorney General directs the Department of Justice’s divisions, including Criminal Law, Civil Rights, and Consumer Protection, all of which address issues affecting children and schools. The Department of Justice’s work spans criminal prosecution, civil rights enforcement, data privacy protection, and legal guidance to educational institutions. Key areas impacting students, families, and schools include:

  • The AG defends students’ civil rights and educational access through the Bureau of Children’s Justice (BCJ), which investigates systemic discrimination in schools. DOJ investigators examine discrimination complaints, ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws, and take legal action when school districts fail to provide equal educational opportunities. These efforts protect vulnerable students and promote inclusive learning environments.
  • The Department of Justice enforces California’s student data privacy laws (KOPIPA and SOPIPA), requiring education-technology providers to protect student data. The AG has taken enforcement actions against companies that fail to implement proper data security, including securing a $3.25 million settlement against Illuminate Education for a 2021 data breach that exposed the sensitive information of over 434,000 California students.
  • The DOJ provides guidance to schools on how to respond to immigration enforcement activities on campus. The Attorney General issued model policies to help schools protect immigrant students’ rights while maintaining safe learning environments, including a requirement that schools provide the AG’s “Know Your Educational Rights” guidance to families.
  • The DOJ’s consumer protection role extends to educational services, investigating fraudulent educational programs, predatory student loan practices, and deceptive marketing targeting families.
  • The Bureau of Children’s Justice issues guidance on discrimination in school discipline. They highlight that research shows students subject to out-of-school suspensions suffer significant adverse impacts and encourage research-based alternatives.
  • In California, PTAs are organized as 501(c)(3) nonprofits and as such are subject to charitable oversight by the California Attorney General through the Registry of Charitable Trusts, requiring annual reporting and ensuring compliance with charitable solicitation laws.

Parents, guardians, and PTAs can engage with the Department of Justice by filing civil rights complaints through the Bureau of Children’s Justice, reporting suspected fraud, student data privacy breaches, and immigration enforcement activities at schools. Understanding how the Attorney General and the Department of Justice function helps families determine when state-level legal intervention may be appropriate to support their needs.

The California Attorney General serves as a crucial guardian of student rights and data privacy, ensuring that legal protections translate into real-world benefits for children and families throughout the state.

This article is part of a series on California’s state elected officials, offices, agencies, and how they impact the education of children and the lives of families throughout California. PTA/PTSAs in California are encouraged to share/reprint this information with all members as we head into the June 2026 California primary and November 2026 election. 
– Read “The California State Superintendent: Shaping Education for Millions,” first published in the October 2025 PTA Connects
– Read “The California State Board of Education: Setting the Course for Student Success,” first published in the November 2025 PTA Connects
– Read “The California Department of Education: Where Policy Meets Practice,” first published in the December 2025 PTA Connects

Your Voice Matters

Posted on by Lydia Vi

By the California State PTA Membership Services Commission

When you join PTA, you do more than support your local school community – you add your voice to the oldest and largest child advocacy volunteer organization in the country. Every membership strengthens PTA’s ability to speak up on the issues that matter most to all families. 

California State PTA is dedicated to positively impact the lives of all children and families. Advocacy is one of the most powerful ways we realize that mission. Membership provides the collective strength needed to advance policies, programs, and initiatives that benefit all children and families. This is the perfect time of year to invite others to stand with us and become PTA members.

We encourage you to invite those who have not yet joined PTA to become part of this important work. Together, we can make a difference. Ask friends, neighbors, family members, and community partners to join PTA today. Many people care deeply about issues affecting children but may not realize that PTA membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make a tangible impact. A simple invitation can bring new advocates into the fold and broaden the network of voices working on behalf of all children and families.

Be A PTA Advocate and Use Your Voice

Posted on by Lydia Vi

A Message from President Heather Ippolito

Welcome to a new calendar year! I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season full of family, friends, fun and hopefully a little rest. The new year finds us focusing on advocacy, as both California State PTA and National PTA hold our Legislative conferences and the legislative season begins. 

When I first joined PTA and the agenda would turn to advocacy, I would get so nervous. In my head were pictures of the entire PTA making signs and marching down to City Hall to yell at people – that was so far out of my comfort zone! When they would ask for volunteers to attend State PTA’s Legislation Conference, I would never raise my hand because I had never had a conversation with an elected official and that sounded terrifying to me. 

It wasn’t until Shereen Walter, 2019-2021 Director of Legislation for California State PTA, visited my district as a featured speaker, that my viewpoint changed on advocacy. In her talk, Shereen helped to demystify advocacy for me by telling us that advocacy was simply asking. As parents we ask for things for our students all the time – whether that is new programs at the school to make learning come to life or getting assistance for a new issue that has arisen on campus. 

As you think about your advocacy efforts in the new year, remember that students’ voice should be a part of all we do. Ask the students at your school what their needs are, what issues are most impacting them, and listen to their stories. We use the phrase “Nothing about us without us” in our DEI and exceptional learner work, and if the mission of PTA is to positively impact the lives of all CHILDREN and families, we can only do that work well if we listen to our students. 

I encourage you to not be intimidated by the term “advocacy”- you are doing it every day! Keep asking for what your students need, and keep sharing your stories with your administrators, school board members and elected officials. All students benefit from caring adults who continue to work alongside them in education advocacy efforts. Our schools and communities benefit when we advocate on behalf of all children and families. 

Today Tomorrow Together

Heather Ippolito
California State PTA President

Advocacy is a Connection Sport

A Message from President-Elect Will Sanford

For many of us, the word advocacy describes what others do to make the world a better place. However, everyone, including our youngest baby, is an advocate. Babies advocate well. They do what advocates do: they make their needs known to the individuals charged with meeting those needs, their parents/caregivers. How do they do it? In the only way they know, which is to cry and hope that those watching out for them will figure out if it is a dirty diaper, that they are hungry, or have to burp. As we gain the ability to express ourselves with words, our advocacy can become clearer or more muddled, depending on how well we have learned to advocate, propose solutions, seek appropriate help and clearly outline the case for getting a need/want met.

The California State PTA advocates to positively impact the lives of all children and their families, which is a huge and complex effort. At the end of the day we need to understand how we can extend our advocacy to influence decision makers to truly support children and families. We advocate every day, whether that is letting people know our preferences (decaf or regular coffee), encouraging people to join our PTA, or ensuring that our state and federal governments make sure that no children go hungry. Some are individual acts of advocacy, such as decaf or regular, and others involve partnering with others to amplify our voices. It all starts with the simple question of “What is the issue/need/challenge?” Look for resources, information, people, and groups that address that issue/need/challenge. Figure out how you can add your voice or get others to add their voices.

 Advocacy is a connection sport, in that we all can make a difference by building connections, starting within your school community and then expanding to include your whole community, including school boards, city councils, county supervisors, and legislative office holders. When you have a personal connection with someone, they are more likely to listen, reflect on your opinion, and potentially ask you for ideas. 

No one was born into the office they hold; they were your neighbor, friend, or community member and then chose to be a public servant. Building connections creates a network that can be used to advocate for a wide variety of issues. It is easier to ask for support from someone who knows you, than if you make a “cold call.” 

As our California Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber, has mentioned in many of her presentations to us over the years, voting is how your voice counts. If you choose to not participate in elections, you are choosing to not be the voice for our children. Your voice matters and voting directly expresses that voice.

Will Sanford
California State PTA President-Elect