Strengthening family voice and civic partnership in Minnesota and beyond
From May 28–30, NPLI joined community leaders, youth, educators, and families in Minneapolis for the 2025 National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference (CSxFE), hosted by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL). As the largest national conference focused on both community schools and family engagement, this year’s theme said it all: “Rising Together; Powering the Movement.”
Held in the heart of Minnesota, the gathering highlighted the state’s growing momentum around family voice, equity, and community-centered education. It was also a moment to spotlight Minnesota’s leadership, both in practice and policy.
“This is a prime time to bring the conference here,” said Patrice Howard, Planning Committee Chair. “We’ve done so many great things, especially in the past ten years, and we’re finally seeing some momentum with legislative support and funding. It’s essential that we elevate that progress on a national platform.”
Centering Parent Leadership in Minnesota
NPLI hosted a workshop titled “Strengthening Parent Leadership in Minnesota: Parent Leadership Training Institute Launch Fall 2025,” which offered participants a “taste” of the PLTI experience. The session shared how the program will be implemented statewide, the role of Civic Design Teams, and how families, advocates, and agencies can get involved in building local leadership capacity.
NPLI also supported a second workshop led by the Indigenous Parent Leadership Initiative (IPLI). That session highlighted the powerful work happening with Ojibwe parent leaders who have adapted PLTI through a culturally grounded lens. By rooting leadership development in Indigenous values and lived experience, IPLI continues to strengthen families and communities in unique and meaningful ways.
The conference reaffirmed what we know to be true: when families lead, systems shift. We’re grateful to IEL and our Minnesota partners for creating space to rise together.
Learn more about IEL at iel.org. Learn more about the Indigenous Parent Leadership Initiative at allnationsrise.com/ipli
