Graduates of the 2026 Parent Leadership Training Institute of Solano were celebrated recently during a ceremony recognizing months of learning, reflection, and shared experience. Funded through a collaboration between the Children’s Network of Solano County and Fairfield-Suisun USD, the program brought together a community of parents who learned how to lift up their voices to influence the systems that shape students’ lives.

“These parents showed up with curiosity and courage,” said FSUSD Superintendent Jennifer Sachs. “Their leadership is rooted in care for their children and for all students, and that kind of leadership is what changes school communities for the better.”

Throughout the 20-week program, participants explored topics ranging from education policy to community engagement, all while connecting their learning to personal experiences as caregivers. For many, the most powerful outcome was not a single lesson, but the sense of belonging created through shared stories and mutual support.

A defining moment of the program is the capstone project, where each participant identifies an issue they care deeply about and presents ideas for positive change. Projects focus on ways to strengthen connections between schools, families, and communities.

For more information, visit childnet.org/PLTI.