Family Focus

06/19/2026

Girls Like Me cannot talk about Juneteenth without honoring the Grandmother of this movement, Ms. Opal Lee.

Known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee shows us that freedom work takes courage, commitment, and generations of love. Through her advocacy, her voice, and her historic walk for justice, she helped pave the way for our nation to recognize Juneteenth as a day of remembrance, celebration, and continued liberation.

Today, we honor Ms. Opal Lee’s legacy and the ancestors who dreamed of freedom long before it was fully realized. We also recommit ourselves to the work ahead: protecting, uplifting, educating, and celebrating Black girls everywhere.

Because freedom is not just something we celebrate — it is something we keep building.

Happy Juneteenth from Girls Like Me Project. ❤️🖤💚

06/19/2026

Today, we honor the resilience, joy, and progress that Juneteenth represents, while also recognizing the ongoing work of building opportunity, economic freedom, and justice for generations to come.

And, as we reflect on the meaning of this day, we encourage our community to celebrate with intention: learn the history, support Black owned businesses, celebrate community and culture, give back and advocate for justice, and take time to reflect, share, and honor.

Join us in celebrating with purpose and carry this spirit of reflection and action into our communities.

06/18/2026

We are thrilled to share some exciting news!

Family Focus Evanston is being officially recognized by the City of Evanston for 50 years of extraordinary service to children, parents, and families. In honor of this remarkable milestone, Mayor Daniel Biss will present a formal proclamation.

This recognition wonderfully reflects 5 decades of dedication from our team members, volunteers, founders, partners, and supporters who have helped shape Family Focus Evanston into a trusted source of care, connection, and community.

✅We invite you to join us virtually for this special moment during the Evanston City Council Meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 5:15 p.m.

✅You can watch live on Channel 16 during the meeting or stream anytime at cityofevanston.org/channel16.

We are deeply honored by this recognition and grateful to all who have helped make this legacy possible.

06/18/2026

We recently welcomed back 28 PwC team members for a second year of volunteer service at our Family Focus Hyde Park and Family Focus South Shore centers!

While some volunteers led a workshop for parents and staff focused on budgeting, saving, and investing strategies, others spent time directly in our preschool classrooms supporting our young learners through planting activities, storytelling, imaginative play, academic engagement, and the daily rhythms of care that help young children feel supported and encouraged.

These moments, while simple on the surface, created meaningful opportunities for connection and support for both children and families. We are deeply grateful to our PwC volunteers for showing up with such enthusiasm, and heart.

Thank you PwC for your continued partnership and for helping make this day so special! .

06/16/2026

The weather did not stop our recent celebration, and we are so glad everyone returned home safely!

Thank you to all who joined us for our Annual Meeting and helped make the evening so meaningful. It was a joy to gather in community, reflect on the work ahead, and celebrate the people and partnerships that continue to move our mission forward.

We are especially grateful to Lily Padula , MSW for sharing her insight and helping guide such a timely and important conversation about the future of early childhood services in Illinois. Her perspective added real depth to the evening and helped ground our collective thinking in both possibility and purpose.

We were also proud to recognize our Leadership Lab cohort and honor our Center Team Members of the Year, whose dedication, care, and excellence reflect the very best of Family Focus.

Thank you again to everyone who attended, supported, and helped make the evening so special. We left feeling encouraged, connected, and even more committed to building stronger futures for children and families together.

And Thank You to the Quarles & Brady Team for hosting us!

06/11/2026

We are deeply grateful to the The Service Club of Chicago for their generous $19,000 investment in our South Shore Center preschool program!

This support will fund a new mini-split air conditioning unit for our preschool kitchen, an important improvement that will help ensure a safer, more efficient, and more comfortable environment for our teams who prepare more than 100,000 meals each year for the children in our care. Nutritious meals help children stay focused, regulated, and ready to learn, making a safe and well-functioning kitchen essential to the success of each preschool day.

By supporting kitchen staff wellness, food safety, and daily operations, this investment will also help create a more stable and predictable preschool experience for our children and teachers alike!

Thank you, The Service Club of Chicago!

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06/09/2026

Research continues to show what so many families already know. When fathers are supported, children and families are stronger because of it.

Our upcoming Fatherhood Symposium is a chance to come together, uplift the voices of fathers, and make space for honest conversation about leadership, love, and what it means to show up with purpose.

We believe fathers deserve support, connection, and recognition for the essential role they play in the life of a child and the strength of a family.

Join us as we continue the conversation around investing in fathers and building stronger families together.

05/28/2026

✅ Advocacy Alert ( English and Spanish)✅

The Illinois Spring Legislative Session is ending May 31st (this weekend!), and decisions being made right now will directly shape programs across our state. This is our last opportunity to make our voices heard and your time today can make the difference.

We have two final asks!

✅ 1. Afterschool Program Funding
We're so close to 500 messages urging increased investment in afterschool programs. Will you please take brief moment to be a part of the 500 advocates? Please enter your name, address, and email to connect with your elected officials, then click “Send Email.” Every message counts → 2026 OST for All Email Your Legislators - https://lnkd.in/g4sy5t-W

✅ 2. Human Services Professional Repayment Program
This beneficial program could make it into the budget but only if we continue applying pressure down to the final deciding moments. Back in February, we launched with a powerful press conference (featuring our own Hyde Park team at minutes 15:50 to 19:40 — worth a watch! - see it here:https://lnkd.in/gB6ibQQv ). Now we need to finish strong! Share your voice here to contact your legislators → Call or leave a message - https://lnkd.in/gxsXnBYg

Thank you for showing up for our communities in all the ways that you do!

EN ESPAÑOL

Hola Equipo Family Focus,

La Sesión Legislativa ya está por terminar el 31 de mayo (¡este fin de semana!) y las decisiones que están tomando acabo ahora directamente afectan los programas del estado. Esta es nuestra última oportunidad para hacer oír nuestra voz, y el tiempo que dedique hoy puede marcar la diferencia.

¡Tenemos dos peticiones finales!

✅ Recursos para After School
Estamos cerca de llegar a 500 mensajes enviados a legisladores para pedir su apoyo en la inversión en nuestros programas después de la escuela. ¿Puede tomar un momento breve para ser uno de los 500? Hay que ingresar su nombre, dirección, y correo electrónico para comunicarse rápidamente con sus representantes, luego haga clic “Send Email.” Cada mensaje cuenta → 2026 OST for All Email Your Legislators - https://lnkd.in/g4sy5t-W

✅ Programa de reembolso para profesionales
Este programa podría incluirse en el presupuesto, pero solo si seguimos ejerciendo presión hasta el último momento. En febrero lo lanzamos con una impactante rueda de prensa (en la que aparece nuestro propio equipo de Hyde Park en los minutos 15:50 a 19:40 —¡vale la pena verla! - https://lnkd.in/gB6ibQQv ). ¡Ahora tenemos que terminar con más fuerza! Haz oír tu voz aquí y ponte en contacto con tus legisladores → Llámale a tu legislador o deja un mensaje - https://lnkd.in/gxsXnBYg

¡Gracias por apoyar a nuestras comunidades de todas las formas en que lo hace!

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05/28/2026

We are counting down the hours to take action for afterschool and community schools, and we need your help.

✅Tomorrow is the deadline!✅

Behind every thriving young person is an adult who refused to give up on them. Our program staff, coaches, and mentors are not simply doing a job. They are helping shape futures. They are building trust, offering consistency, and showing young people what it means to be seen, supported, and believed in.

As we approach this critical deadline, we are urging lawmakers to protect and invest in afterschool and community school programs. These programs do not just serve young people. They strengthen families, support communities, and help create the conditions every child deserves.
Today, we also honor every mentor who has ever said, I see you. I believe in you.

We invite you to take action with us. Contact your legislators. Stand up for afterschool and community schools.

✅Now is the time. Click the link below to ACT!
https://lnkd.in/g4sy5t-W