SOMERVILLE, MA, February 8, 2018 — Parenting Journey announced today that former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson has been named its inaugural Social and Family Justice Fellow. Jackson will focus on public policy and civic engagement, building partnerships and developing a robust agenda to help lift families out of poverty.
The three-month fellowship was created to help empower families through the intersection of economic justice and parenting, addressing three core challenges facing communities of color: reliable jobs with living wages, access to affordable housing, and workplace policies and protections that reflect the diverse needs of families. These inequities in our city perpetuate the cycles of poverty and trauma, add to the everyday stressors of parenting, and prevent parents from planning the futures they, and their families, deserve.
“Tito is a champion for the families of Boston and has demonstrated a commitment to social justice, communities of color, and empowering people to be their own champions. This commitment is aligned with Parenting Journey’s belief that parents have the power to build resilient families. His expertise in public policy, advocacy and public service will help us shape a vibrant future for families,” said Executive Director Imari Paris Jeffries.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be the inaugural Parenting Journey Fellow and this opportunity is a continuation of the issues that I advocated for as City Councilor. All too often poor and working parents and communities of color face barriers beyond the everyday trials and tribulations of parenting. My work with Parenting Journey will help empower parents to break down obstacles and enable parents and caregivers to build strong, resilient families and communities,” said Jackson.
As City Councilor, Jackson chaired the Committee on Education and the Special Committee on the Status of Black and Latino Men and Boys. He was also the Vice Chair of the Committee on Healthy Women, Families and Communities. He also served on six other committees, including City Neighborhood Services and Veteran Affairs; Homelessness, Mental Health and Recovery; Housing and Community Development, Jobs, Wages and Workforce Development; Public Safety and Criminal Justice.
“Since joining Parenting Journey last spring, I’ve taken the opportunity to leverage our expertise to play a more active civic role in the community,” said Paris Jeffries. “This Fellowship program is a natural extension of our existing engagement, relationships and commitment to social justice. We’ll be adding additional Fellows later this year, representing a variety of backgrounds and communities.”
ABOUT PARENTING JOURNEY
Parenting Journey is a national nonprofit committed to breaking the systemic cycle of parenting in poverty. We recognize that systemic injustices related to poverty and race prevent many parents from realizing the futures they, and their families, deserve. Our work is inspired by the belief that strong families are the foundation of vibrant healthy communities and the catalyst to ignite social change. We provide programs that empower parents and caregivers and strengthen families and communities, advocate for equitable family policies, and disrupt the social narrative around parenting in poverty.
Parenting Journey envisions a world where all parents and caregivers have access to the resources they need to build resilient families and succeed, no matter their race or socioeconomic background.
For more information, visit https://parentingjourney.org/bofc/
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