NPU Awards Over $100,000 in Grants to Everyday Parents Impacting Change

Boston, MA (August 1, 2022) – The National Parents Union (NPU) is dedicated to ensuring that Everyday Parents Impact Change (EPIC) – and we are putting our money where our mouth is! Parent activists in communities nationwide applied to NPU’s EPIC grant program to hold their local school boards and districts accountable for transparently engaging families in decision-making. We are inspired by your energy and ideas and desire to see your child’s education reimagined! 

Now, without further delay, we are delighted to announce our $5,000 EPIC Grant Winners from cities across the country!

  • Maria Alvarado-Gil – Pittsburgh, CA P.U.E.D.E (Parents United for Equity & Diversity in Education] City of Antioch in the Antioch Unified School District.)
  • Natalia Amons – Gary, IN (Concerned Citizens For Change)
  • Cemeli de Atzlan – El Paso, TX (La Mujer Obrera)
  • Letitia Dowling – Denmark, S.C (Denmark Cares)
  • Shanee Harmon – Glen Allen, VA (Richmond Urban Collective)
  • Jumoke Hinton – Oakland, CA (West Oakland Grown Initiatives)
  • LaToya Ireland – Waterbury, CT (Waterbury Bridge To Success Community Partnership)
  • Shirley Irizarry, Camden, NJ (Parents Invincible)
  • Jerrisha Johnson – Lake Elsinior, CA (Baby Dollaz)
  • Mary Johnson, Downy, CA (Parent-U-Turn)
  • Michelle Lara – Tulsa, OK (Padres Unidos de Tulsa) 
  • Shanai Lee – Penfield, NY (Rochester Education Fellowship, LLC)
  • Mayra Isabel Mendoza – Raisin City, CA (Famílias Empoderadas)
  • Jamilah Muhammad, Newark, NJ (Parent Impact)
  • Tremena O’Neil – Detroit, MI 
  • Dwain Parker, Rochester, NY (Almyt Cuts)
  • Samuel L. Radford, III – Buffalo, NY (We The Parents of Buffalo NY)
  • Laura Garcia Reyes – Fresno, CA (La Mujer Obrera)
  • Ashley Virden – Indianapolis, IN (Education FreeStyle)
  • Watching the Funds – Cobb – Cobb County, GA
  • Anashay Wright – Decatur, GA (Disruptive Partners)

While we aren’t able to grant an award to everyone who applied, we are able to provide other resources to help you seek bold changes in your communities. Check out these resources here.

Congratulations again to our 2022 EPIC Award Winners!

About the National Parents Union 

The National Parents Union is a network of highly effective parent organizations and grassroots activists across the country that is united behind a set of common goals and principles to channel the power of parents. Our family advocates improve the quality of life for children across the United States and define the education conversation. https://nationalparentsunion.org/