Highlights from the 2025 New England Fathering Conference

At the 25th New England Fathering Conference, NPLI co-led a powerful workshop on economic mobility for fathers alongside parent leader Joshua Vaughn. From storytelling to strategy, the gathering highlighted the impact of lived experience in shaping stronger, more equitable support systems. Read more from our time in Mystic.

Welcome to the Team: Meet Viviane Rinaldi!

We’re growing! NPLI is excited to welcome Viviane Rinaldi as our new Operations and Communications Coordinator. With experience in community leadership, multilingual communications, and a passion for equity, Viviane is already making an impact. Get to know her and the work she’s doing behind the scenes.

Building Parent Leadership in Minnesota: A New Chapter Begins

NPLI has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families to launch a statewide vision for parent leadership through the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI). At a recent Civic Design Team training in Minneapolis, partners came together to connect, plan, and begin shaping a stronger future for families across the state. See how this work is taking shape and what’s next.

Leading with Integrity: Zulema Gomez’s School Board Campaign

Zulema Gomez, our Director of Implementation, recently ran a powerful grassroots campaign for her local school board in California. Her campaign was rooted in integrity, inclusion, and the voices of parents. Now that the race is over, we’re proud to share our admiration for her leadership and her ongoing impact as a parent leader committed to respectful, community-driven change.

Family bonding

Reflecting on the Election and Renewing Our Mission

As we reflect on this election, NPLI reaffirms its steadfast hope and commitment to justice and dignity for every family and community. We remain unwavering in our belief that hope is not a passive state but rather that it’s a call to action. Election outcomes may shift the landscape, and while our work may be made harder, our mission endures: to uplift parent voices, advocate for children, and ensure that communities across our nation have the civic tools and knowledge to lead for a better tomorrow.

The Impact of the Indigenous Parent Leadership Initiative

The Indigenous Parent Leadership Initiative (IPLI) at White Earth Nation is a powerful example of culturally grounded leadership in action. Recently featured on the Community In-Site podcast, IPLI showcases how honoring cultural identity can drive healing, empowerment, and lasting community change.

Advancing Equity and Leadership at the IEL CSxFE Conference

In May 2024, NPLI joined educators, community leaders, and advocates in Atlanta for the Institute for Educational Leadership’s (IEL) National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference (CSxFE). NPLI’s two sessions during the conference emphasized the critical roles of teacher diversity and youth leadership in fostering equitable and inclusive educational spaces. Pre-Conference Session:“Parent Leadership & Teacher Diversity: Why It Matters…

Leaders Shaping Leaders Inaugural Cohort Graduation

This summer, NPLI team members joined the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) at their annual conference in San Francisco, CA, to celebrate the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the Leaders Shaping Leaders (LSL) Fellowship Initiative. NPLI also participated in a panel composed of members of each partner organization that explained the why and how of the…