Local parent-leadership groups outline 11-week training, push for community conversations
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Summary
Representatives from Washington Family Engagement and LENTI presented programs the DEI Commission says could boost parent civic engagement, offering an 11‑week virtual course in English and Spanish and local community conversations to surface needs.
Representatives of Washington Family Engagement and the Latino Education Training Institute (LENTI) told the Mountlake Terrace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission that their parent-leadership programs give caregivers tools to engage with schools and local government.
April, a presenter for Washington Family Engagement, described an 11-week course the organization offers three times a year in English and Spanish. “Parents are an expert on their children, and educators are experts in education,” April said, describing the program’s goal of elevating parents as partners in schools. April said classes are intensive — about five hours per week — and typically capped at about 22–25 participants per cycle.
Marisol, representing LENTI, told commissioners the group moved from a local to a statewide model during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking classes online and now supports nearly 800 graduates statewide. She said LENTI provides Spanish-language programming and community training venues and emphasized a social-justice foundation for the work.
Commissioners and presenters discussed next steps for local outreach: sharing printed flyers at upcoming “community conversations” hosted by the city and Sno-Isle Libraries, arranging on‑site presentations at Mountlake Terrace Elementary, and identifying parents who might step into city commissions and boards. Councilmember Murray suggested the city and the training groups identify Mountlake Terrace parents who could be encouraged to serve on local boards and commissions.
The groups said they also offer alumni networks and technical-assistance for school districts and nonprofits to improve partnership with families. April said many graduates return to serve as facilitators and coordinators, creating a pipeline from training into paid roles and volunteer leadership.
No formal action or funding decision was taken by the commission at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to circulate the course flyer to the city’s outreach list and to coordinate logistics for the upcoming community conversation at Mountlake Terrace Elementary.
Why this matters: The two organizations aim to increase parent participation in public education and civic processes through training and local engagement, a topic the commission said ties directly to its DEI goals and upcoming outreach events.
