On February 26-27, 2025, the National Parent Leadership Institute (NPLI), in collaboration with the Central Ohio Parent Leadership Institute (COPLTI), the Ohio Children’s Defense Fund, and Policy Matters Ohio, organized a powerful advocacy experience for COPLTI graduates at the Ohio Statehouse. Over two days, parent leaders observed the legislative process, met with policymakers, and strengthened their skills as civic leaders.
Why We Went
This advocacy trip was an opportunity for parent leaders to put their training into practice. Before heading to the Capitol, participants completed a four-week legislative advocacy training led by NPLI. The goal was to prepare parent leaders to speak confidently with legislators, understand the policymaking process, and advocate for change that reflects their communities’ needs. The training brought together staff and parent leaders in a shared learning experience rooted in civic leadership and relationship-building.
“80% of politics is showing up,” said Representative Jason Stephens during our visit with him, and that’s exactly what our group of parent leaders did.
A Day of Civic Engagement
The day began at Trinity Episcopal Church, where the group gathered before heading into the Capitol for a full schedule of legislative engagement. Parent leaders attended committee hearings, delivered testimony, and participated in meetings with lawmakers throughout the day.
Here’s some of what they experienced:
House Health Committee: Parents observed testimony on HB 96, a budget appropriations bill that directly affects health and human services.
House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee: Discussions focused on budget allocations for critical social services.
House Ways & Means Committee: Parent leaders submitted testimony on two key issues: the Child Tax Credit and the Driver’s License for All initiative.
Throughout the day, parent leaders also met with legislators, including Representative McNally (House District 58), Senator DeMora (Senate District 25), Representative Sims (House District 33), and Senator Weinstein (Senate District 28).
The meetings with legislators were impactful, and legislators were receptive to hearing from parent leaders. Our partner at Policy Matters Ohio played a critical role in coordinating these meetings, and we credit them for this success.
Growth in Parent Leaders
For many, this was their first time inside the State Capitol, and this visit offered their first direct look at how laws are shaped. They started the day feeling nervous, but as the day progressed, their confidence grew. Several parents took active roles in discussions, sharing their stories and engaging in meaningful policy conversations. By the end of the day, participants felt more prepared to continue engaging in advocacy work, both in their communities and at future legislative sessions.
Kimberly Sullivan, a COPLTI graduate, reflected on witnessing democracy in action:
“The most memorable one was actually seeing law take place, like when they were yays and no nays and law took place. And then going home and reading about it where, and knowing and remembering that I was in a room when that took place.”
Similarly, Christian Davis found inspiration in hearing legislators’ personal stories:
“I think the most memorable was our conversations with senators and learning about their individual story. We got to learn about why they themselves got into the seats that they’re in, but then also about key issues that they were passionate about. So I love hearing that and I think that it added a sense of humanity and humility.”
For Tiana Lee, a COPLTI graduate who now serves as the Alumni Engagement Specialist, the visit reinforced an essential truth:
“My hopes for the capital visit was for parents to understand the power that we hold in this space. Our capital. I know we were in the space of the capital, but also understanding that this is our house.”
A Moment of History
A particularly memorable moment of the day was witnessing the unanimous vote on 6888 Battalion Day, a bill recognizing the honoring the only all-Black, all-women battalion to serve overseas in World War II. The passage of this legislation added historical depth and meaning to the visit, showing the importance of civic engagement in shaping policies that acknowledge and honor overlooked contributions. (More context on this bill: Ohio Senate Announcement)
Wisdom from the Legislators
Two messages stood out during our meetings with Representative Stephens and Representative Sims.
Rep. Stephens emphasized the importance of building relationships with legislators:
“The best way to do it is to call up and say, we would like to come, have a meeting. And you introduce and you do that, and you tell ’em a few stories as to why it’s so important and that that really goes the longest way.”
Rep. Sims encouraged parent leaders to embrace their voices:
“People are looking for genuine voices that will speak to the things that are important to them, from people who feel it. It feels like they wanna see their material conditions change, right? What you say matters. And so I’m gonna encourage you to do that.”
Advocacy in Action: What’s Next?
This trip was a great first step toward building long-term relationships between parent leaders and policymakers. Advocacy doesn’t end at the Statehouse; rather, it’s about creating ongoing engagement and ensuring that parents’ voices remain present in legislative discussions.
COPLTI parent leaders are now equipped to:
- Submit written testimony at future hearings
- Follow up with legislators to keep the dialogue going
- Share what they learned with other parents
- Stay involved in local and state-level advocacy
Final Thoughts
We are incredibly proud of the parent leaders who stepped into advocacy at the Ohio State Capitol, using their voices to engage with policymakers and gain firsthand experience in legislative advocacy. This visit is part of our broader commitment to ensuring that parents across the country have opportunities to participate in the legislative process.
This work will continue through NPLI’s ongoing training and our partnerships with PLTI sites across the country. Previously, we’ve organized similar advocacy experiences with New Orleans PLTI in Baton Rouge and Memphis PLTI in Nashville. For those parent leaders and the ones joining us in Ohio, advocacy is no longer an abstract concept but rather an ongoing active practice. We look forward to expanding these opportunities so more parent leaders can help shape policies that affect their families and communities
“Trust the process. And knowledge is power. And the more we know, the more we’ll feel capable of being able to do, to make the change that needs to happen.” – Kimberly Sullivan
This is just the beginning.
Are you in Ohio and want to get involved in parent leadership and advocacy? Learn more about the Central Ohio Parent Leadership Training Institute at https://centralohioplti.org/.
