The Parents Not Partisans Summit in Sacramento, sponsored by different organizations including PERK Advocacy, took place on March 12th and 13th, 2024. The event had informative sessions on education protection, parents’ rights, and Capitol issues.
More than 150 parents, school board members, and candidates across California met in Sacramento for CPC's Parents, Not Partisans Summit. CPC’s Lance Christensen moderated a series of panel discussions with some of California’s most high-profile parental rights advocates and education reform leaders, such as Amy Bohn, PERK President, Asm. Bill Essayli, and Conner Boyack, president of the Libertas Institute and creator of the popular Tuttle Twins children’s series! Other panelists included:
Tab Berg | Political Strategist & Founder, TAB communications, inc.
Dr. Nicole Conragan | School Choice Advocate & Board Secretary, Parents for School Options
Kira Davis | Author & Podcast Host (Just Listen To Yourself)
Maxie Douglas | Director of Communications, California Senate Republican Caucus
LTC Kenney Enney (Ret.) | Trustee, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District
Erin Friday | Co-Leader, Our Duty & Executive Committee Member, Protect Kids California
Julie Hamill | Trustee, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District; Founder of Alliance of Los Angeles County Parents & Attorney, California Policy Center
Sophia Lorey | Outreach Director, California Family Council & Podcast Host (This is a Woman Podcast)
Alex Nester | Political Director, PDE Action & Investigative Fellow, Parents Defending Education
Sonja Shaw | President of the Chino Valley Unified School Board
Frank Xu | President, Californians for Equal Rights Foundation
Getting your Message Across to State Legislators and Persuasive Advocacy Techniques with:
Tom Sheehy | Principal, Sheehy Strategy Group
The event lasted two days and included training, networking, and advocacy at the State Capitol. The summit, which is now in its third year, has grown significantly since 2022. Attendance is expected to double next year due to high demand. The event featured sessions on grassroots advocacy, media relations, and countering teachers unions and special interests.
Participants attended morning sessions on effective advocacy at the State Capitol, then met with legislators like Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh and Josh Hoover to use their new skills. Parent advocates discussed education reform with lawmakers, highlighting the summit's importance.
*The event was made possible by CPC donors and sponsors: PERK Advocacy, California Parents for Public Virtual Education, and Californians for Equal Rights Foundation.