By working together the Federation and its members achieve success!
The Federation for Community Schools is a coalition of individuals and organizations working together to promote policies that support the advancement of community schools throughout Illinois.  Federation members receive many benefits from participating in the coalition.  Click here for a list of community schools in Illinois. 

Why Become a Member
Program Advisory Committee (PAC)
Federation Subcommittees
    - Advocacy Subcommittee
    - Communications Subcommittee
    - Professional Development (PD)/Research Subcomittee

Why Become a Member 

• Up-to-date information about issues pertaining to community schools;
• Opportunities for peer-to-peer mentoring and networking through monthly meetings and annual conferences;
• Access to professional development related to establishing and maintaining a high quality community school;
• Ability to learn more through the Federation's clearinghouse of community school best practices and emerging research findings;
• Talking points on community schools to help coalition members discuss their schools' experience within the larger framework of community schools; and
• Access to information about potential sustainability opportunities as they emerge.

In return for all of this, the Federation asks that its members actively participate in the advocacy plans and activities as developed collectively by the Federation's coalition members.  There will be local, state and federal level policy work as well as work with the media.  The Federation will work with its members to get the word out about the powerful impact of community schools for the students, the school, and the community.

Please join today by completing the membership form and sending it in today!

Program Advisory Committee (PAC)
The Program Advisory Committee (PAC) was elected by the membership to provide leadership for the members of the Federation. Three members of the PAC were selected by the PAC to serve as non-voting members on the Federation’s Board of Directors. The PAC representation at the Federation’s Board meetings ensures that Board members have direct input from the stakeholders and practitioners of community schools. It is important to note that the PAC seats are not dedicated to the individual or that person's organization, but are the combination of both person and organization represented.  The following outlines the roles and responsibilities of PAC members:  

1. Actively participate in all stakeholder committee meetings and serve as a stakeholder member

2. Articulate and influence the state and federal policy agenda
3. Effectively communicate with and between stakeholders and serve as a voice of the stakeholder members to the greater public
4. Secure endorsement of the Federation's policy agenda from their organization

5. Invest in moving forward the vision of Community School

   PAC Members
   The PAC Members for fiscal year 2009 (October 2008 - September 2009) are:

   Patrick Brosnan Brighton Park Neighborhood Council	Idida Perez West Town Leadersship United
   Sharon Covey YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago	April Porter University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration
   David Flatley* Columbia College, Center for Community Arts Partnerships	Ernest Sanders Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation
   Celia Lozano Communities in Schools of Chicago	Iona Battiste Metropolitan Family Services
   Lisette Moreno-Kuri Logan Square Neighborhood Association	Nelly Torres* Parents Organized to Win, Educate, and Renew (POWER-PAC)
   Michelle Adler Morrison Youth Guidance	Kristen White Children's Home + Aid
   Adeline Ray Chicago Public Schools, Community Schools Initiative

 *Representative on the Federation's Board of Directors.

PAC Meetings:  Please see the calendar for upcoming meeting dates and for more information about each meeting.

Federation Subcommittees
The Federation is focused on four key work areas that are essential to sustaining robust community schools throughout Illinois.  As such, we have developed subcommittees to allow staff to work closely with members with the goal of promoting community schools and ultimately bringing about policy changes that support community schools.  Each subcommittee is made up of Federation members and is co-chaired by a member of the PAC and a Federation staff member.   

If you are interested in joining a subcommittee, please send an email to Anita Banerji indicating which subcommittee you are interested in joining.  Information about the key tasks of each subcommittee can be found below.  Click here for additional details about the Federation's work strategies as they relate to each of these focus areas.  

Advocacy Subcommittee
Co-chaired by Sue Armato, Anita Banerji, Patrick Brosnan (PAC Member)
The Advocacy Strategy includes three distinct areas - State, Federal, and Administrative Advocacy.  The key advocacy activities that the Federation and Advocacy Subcommittee are engaged in on the State Level are:  

• Identifying champions and showcasing community schools; 
• Creating statewide awareness and raising visibility with policymakers; and
• Establishing and advocate and funding mechanism in ISBE.  

On the Federal Level, the Federation is:

• Identifying champions and spreading the word;
• Building a larger coalition of Congressional delegates aware of community schools;
• Monitoring 21st CCLC dollars; and
• Working to increase dedicated federal funding for community schools.  

At the Administrative Level, the Federation works to:

• Reward successful community school lead partners; and
• Educate government agencies about the impact of community schools.  

Professional Development (PD)/Research Subcommittee
Co-chaired by Greg Hall and Celia Lozano (PAC Member)
The Federation and the PD/Research Subcommittee are involved in:

• Providing outcomes focused, evidenced based tools that can help sites identify their development needs & strengths;
• Creating shared expectations for accountability for community schools progress among our members; and
• Serving as a resource for Illinois' community schools by providing professional development opportunities and acting as a repositoty for related best practices and research.  

Communications Subcommittee
Co-chaired by Melissa Trumbull Mitchell and Ernie Sanders (PAC Member)
The Federation and its Communications Subcomittee work to support advocacy efforts by creating a public awareness campaign that educates the general public about community schools and the benefits they offer to children, families, and community.  Additionally, they create tools that can be used by Federation members to enhance their communications efforts.