Parent Members

Nailah Adama, Beloit, WI

What inspired you to join the PCEAC? I have been involved with a lot of different committees for parent engagement with my school district or other avenues and I have been accustomed to this being just a ‘check box’ so I was excited when I heard what PCEAC was about and thought I needed to remind people what it’s about. So, I fully intended coming here to argue with people to make sure they didn’t ignore us – but I didn’t need to be. It’s been such a different experience – like everything I didn’t expect it to be. 

What do you hope the PCEAC can achieve for Wisconsin parents and caregivers? I hope that PCEAC becomes such a force for positive change that no policy or legislative work that impacts parents or caregivers ever STARTS without input from PCEAC. I would like the PCEAC to be used to influence policy at a statewide level to support families and children. I want to make sure we continue to go back to our communities to be heard and be authentic in that.

Sheila Cruz, Milwaukee, WI

What inspired you to join the PCEAC? My own children and the work that I do every day inspired me. Ever since I became a mother, I knew I wanted to do something for them (daughters). I am on another parent/caregiver board but based in Milwaukee where we are working with parents and letting them know that they are the first teachers of their kids. We offer free events for everyone, never turn down anyone in Milwaukee. When I read about PCEAC, I wanted to give parents resources to be able to expand what we do in Milwaukee everywhere else since I know there are counties that don’t have as many resources or people don’t know about them. 

What is your proudest moment serving on the PCEAC? My proudest moment serving the PCEAC was representing them in the Aspen Institute Convening in Milwaukee. 

What do you hope the PCEAC can achieve for Wisconsin parents and caregivers? I hope we can create a big community of parents and caregivers in Wisconsin and that everyone is able to have access to resources.

Meagan Grabarski, Adams Co, WI

What inspired you to join the PCEAC? Being a new mom, I wanted to better understand the children's system and how to also assist families that I might help in my professional work role. I was aware of some of the deficits in our local area based on the work I was doing in my community but then it also started to be something I myself needed to be aware of for my own growing family. 

What do you hope the PCEAC can achieve for Wisconsin parents and caregivers? Encouraging other parents and caregivers to speak up on the issues concerning the care for children; being a space to allow for problem-solving and planning to strengthen the systems of care for children.

Joyce Hall, Madison, WI

What has been your favorite part of being on the PCEAC? My favorite part has been hearing other parents’ experiences from different areas and putting together a plan to address the gaps in services. I really enjoyed doing community conversations – they were so good, and we got to hear from the community directly! 

What makes the PCEAC and its work unique? PCEAC is unique in the way of uplifting parent voices unapologetically. We have honest discussions with parents from our very own communities and amplify their voices in our work! 

What do you hope the PCEAC can achieve for Wisconsin parents and caregivers? I hope they can get support from DCF in ways that is up to date and beneficial in ways that connect with other systems. I hope PCEAC can start to close some of the gaps for example when a family reach a certain financial threshold and being denied for services. I really want to emphasize the important of identifying gaps and finding solutions.

Trisha Murphy, Adams Co, WI

What inspired you to join the PCEAC? To make a difference in our community. Our community (Adams County) is so tiny, small and there is nothing there. It is a lot of rural area, so you need to travel and there are also a lot of low-income families. I just wanted to show the Legislature that little communities like this need money, they need help. We don’t have things like the bigger cities, I want to make a difference – something needs to change. Our children are our future – I just can’t be quiet anymore.

Morgan Rowell, Adams Co, WI

What inspired you to join the PCEAC? Helping other families with the struggles I faced. When I first heard about the PCEAC, the way it was described to me was that it would be a way to influence policies and give parents a voice. Sometimes it feels like, especially with government, it’s just a bunch of government people talking, but not from the parents’ perspective. 

What is your proudest moment serving on the PCEAC? Being able to listen to other stories and tell people they are being heard. I really like when I'm talking to other parents – friends, coworkers, other families – seeing them and being able to say ‘you are not alone. I can help you.’ and then take those concerns back to the cabinet to get real solutions.

Jordan St.Germaine, Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe (LCO)

What inspired you to join the PCEAC? I felt it was a productive outlet to provide my experiences and input on quality childcare. There was a time when [Former DCF] Secretary Amundson and DCF staff came to a tribal governing board meeting where they were sharing information about upcoming grants at the time. We had a discussion in our boardroom, where I found myself being protective of our community stating these grants may not help people, the way they thought they would, knowing their benefits could be impacted. The Secretary and other staffers thought I’d be a great member for a group (PCEAC). I had 4 kids of my own close in age, so the work we were doing in this group allowed me to connect to what I experienced to improve services for people.

What is your personal goal as a member of the PCEAC? To help advocate for other working families with small children & get my community’s voices heard.