Last year, Novato mom Claudia Zamorano lost her house and her business. This year, she came to Sacramento for Parent Voices’ Stand for Children day. “I needed to tell people how bad (families) are doing in this economic situation,” says Zamorano, mother of Daniella, age 11, and Alexander, age 3.

Hundreds of parents from around the state attended the Stand for Children rally and met with legislators about the importance of child care—and how the state should spend its federal stimulus funds.

“We really got in to some hearts”

At the rally, “I learned how bad we have it,” says Zamorano, “since there were so many people begging for child care. There are a lot of people like me, and we’re going to need a lot of help. We need to make sure that the (federal stimulus) money goes to the right place. Our kids are suffering.”

Participating in the rally was a “good feeling”, she adds. “A lot of people spoke their feelings—how (they) feel and how (they’re) doing as a family right now. We really got in to some hearts,” she adds.

“We are all leaders”

Florencia Parada says she was “really nervous” when asked to be an emcee at the rally and translate speeches into Spanish. But she decided to do it because “my community and parents were all coming. That gave me the motivation and the trust that I could do a good job,” adds Parada, a mother in Novato to 9-year-old Francesca.

Parada says the “energy and the passion of people” at the rally was a highlight of the day. “I felt like I grew professionally and personally. I faced my challenge, and didn’t let it stop me,” she adds.

“Seeing where (Parada) stands, that she’s there and shows her support to everybody, fighting for the cause, was really great,” says Zamorano.

On the bus ride back to Marin County, Parada recalls “other parents talking about how it was good to see a Latina up there because that means we all have an important role as parents. For them to see that in me makes me feel really good. We are all leaders and Parent Voices is empowering our community.”

Parent Voices contacts:

Statewide: Mary Ignatius, 415-882-0234. mignatius@rrnetwork.org

Alameda (Hayward): Jennifer Greppi, 510-584-3115,
jenniferf@4c-alameda.org

Alameda (Oakland): Janet Zamudio, 510-658-7353,
janet@bananasinc.org

Amador: Amy Jones, 209-223-1624 x109, ajones@hrcccr.org

Butte: Jane Haberman, 530-895-1677,
jhaberman@valleyoakchildren.org

Calaveras: Cheryl Berg, 209-754-1075, ext. 115, cberg@hrcccr.org

Contra Costa: Candy Duperroir, 925-778-4739, candy@cocokids.org

El Dorado: Heather Della Ripa, 530-541-5848, hscfcslt@pacbell.net

Fresno: Lourdes Hernandez, 559-456-1100, louh@cvcsn.org

Los Angeles: Dawn Lovelace, 323-421-2602,
DLovelace@crystalstairs.org

Marin: Leah Benz, 415-491-5776, leah@mc3.org

Sacramento: Rachel Minnick, 916-369-3387,
Rachel.Minnick@childaction.org

San Francisco: Maria Luz Torre, 415-343-3383,
parentvoices@childrenscouncil.org

San Joaquin: Ana Tacan, 209-461-2933, atacan@frrcsj.org

San Mateo: Child Care Coordinating Council, 650-655-5078

Santa Barbara: Children’s Resource and Referral Program, 805-962-8988

Santa Clara: Mario Del Castillo, 408-487-0747, mariod@4c.org

Solano: Kathy Lago, 707-864-4620, klago@solanosfcs.org

Sonoma: Lorie Siebler, 707-522-1413, lsiebler@sonoma4cs.org