The power of parent voices: First 5 Monterey County’s advocacy network

The California coast around Monterey Bay is often hailed as a working definition of paradise.

When people imagine this region, they conjure up images of breathtaking natural beauty, a laid-back vibe, towering redwood trees, and iconic scenes of surfers riding the waves.

Beyond this picturesque facade, the Central Coast Early Childhood Advocacy Network is making a profound impact.

Also known as the Network, it is proudly housed at First 5 Monterey County. The Network has been organizing families throughout the region to use their voices and share their stories to enrich children's lives.

Back in 2021, the Network set out to educate and empower parents, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping policy. The organization formed a parent cohort consisting of eight dedicated Central Coast community leaders, and conducted workshops that helped turn them into powerful advocates.

The first workshop unveiled the complexities of policymaking, emphasizing the significance of advocacy in the legislative process. Parents learned how a bill becomes a law and who their local representatives were — knowledge that would later catalyze change.

In the second workshop, parents honed their ability to craft powerful messages that resonated with the needs of their families and communities. Personal experiences became the heart of their stories, and these narratives were intertwined with calls to action. The parents drafted and shared their stories within the group, a process that fostered a strong sense of community.

The cohort then met with their local representatives. Assemblymember Robert Rivas, state Sen. Anna Caballero, Assemblymember Mark Stone, state Sen. John Laird and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta listened attentively as parents shared their experiences and underscored the urgent need for increased investment in mental health, child care, education, and economic relief.

From 2019 to 2022, the Network experienced exponential growth, with 528 network participants and 36 organizations joining their ranks.

Fifty-two community members engaged in legislative visits, while 10 parent leaders advocated for policy changes benefiting children and families. Twenty-four parents actively participated in a policy learning community, grasping the intricacies of legislative processes and the power of storytelling.

When Eneida Flores, one of the Network’s parent advocates, got an opportunity to share her story with the elected officials, she emphasized the dire need for affordable housing to protect children from the trauma of unstable living conditions.

“Many migrant families in my community live in a garage, or more than four people sleep in one room, or they don’t have enough money to pay rent for an apartment,” Flores said. “This puts our children at risk as they are more likely to experience trauma such as child abuse.”

Edith Ochoa got the same opportunity, and she said she champions full-time early education.

The Central Coast Early Childhood Advocacy Network is a testament to the power of collective voices in promoting racial and gender equity, family economic stability, trauma-informed healing, and positive childhood experiences.