Family is absolutely central to Judaism, from the commandment to honor our parents to centuries of law and wisdom on raising our children to ancient guidelines for respecting our elders. No matter our family structure, family is where we celebrate, nurture, mourn, learn, and more. That’s why we believe organizing parents, families, and caregivers should be central to JUFJ’s work.

Every child in DC, regardless of their race, family wealth, or zip code, should have access to high-quality and affordable early childhood education provided by early childhood educators who are paid fairly. JUFJ, in partnership with the Under 3 DC coalition, is working toward a city where all families — regardless of race, zip code, or economic status — have access to high-quality early childhood education and health supports, and childhood educators are paid fairly for the essential work that they do.

Central to this work is our organizing of parents and caregivers across the District. Parents and caregivers are closest to these issues and therefore perfectly positioned to advocate for progressive change. These community leaders engage in grassroots advocacy by:

• Signing petitions, sending action alerts, and contacting their Councilmembers
• Attending Under 3 and our partners’ rallies and days of action
• Testifying before the DC Council to share their lived experiences and values-based beliefs about the importance of strong childcare infrastructure and equitable access to DC Paid Leave
• Joining JUFJ for canvassing, tabling, and other family-friendly events to mobilize other families to get involved
• Inviting JUFJ to events and opportunities to connect with more parents and caregivers

Our parent and caregiver leaders not only form the backbone of our advocacy efforts, but are the key to our success in achieving real, tangible change for families across the District. We know most parents have limited free time and complicated schedules, and our parent organizing work is designed to be highly flexible and include a range of opportunities. We ensure that even the busiest of parents are able to stay in the loop and engage in low-lift advocacy efforts.

Although this work centered around families, anyone is welcome to be part of our parent organizing work. We’re always looking for folks to help us staff canvassing and tabling events and educate new folks about our advocacy work. If you’re passionate about creating and sustaining a stronger and more equitable early childcare system in DC, this is the perfect way for you to get involved!

Sign up here to meet Abi, our parent and family organizer, and learn more about how to get engaged.

Contact abi.shakur@jufj.org for more information