PERK at the White House: Bringing Your Voice Into the Room
PERK President Amy Bohn Represents Families at White House Faith Office Briefing
Dear PERK Community,
This summer, I had the honor of representing PERK and the families we serve at a White House Faith Office Briefing in Washington, D.C.
For PERK, this invitation represented something much bigger than simply attending a meeting at the White House. It was another opportunity to bring the concerns, experiences, and solutions of parents and families directly into conversations taking place at the highest levels of our federal government.
For years, PERK has worked to protect parental rights, religious liberty, educational access, medical freedom, and the fundamental rights of families. We have taken those issues into school districts, courtrooms, the California State Capitol, congressional offices, and now once again into conversations inside the White House. And we never forget who we are representing when we enter those rooms: you.
A Seat at the Table and an Opportunity to Offer Solutions
The White House Faith Office was established to engage faith-based organizations, partner organizations, and communities and to advise on policies affecting religious liberty, families, and communities. The Office is housed within the Domestic Policy Council and is tasked with consulting faith leaders and making recommendations regarding federal policies and programs.
Throughout the briefing, we heard a consistent message about courage, conviction, faith, family, and protecting the principles that matter most.
Among those addressing attendees were White House Senior Advisors: Tom Homan, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Pastor Paula White-Cain, Assistant to the President Will Scharf, and other members of the Administration and White House team.
The discussions covered issues ranging from protecting vulnerable children and preserving religious liberty to maintaining faith and conviction while serving in public life. Pastor Paula White-Cain also spoke about the mission of the White House Faith Office and its commitment to working alongside faith leaders and organizations throughout the country. Pastor Paula currently serves as Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office.
One particularly sobering discussion focused on the extraordinary number of people around the world who face persecution because of their faith—a powerful reminder that religious freedom cannot be taken for granted.
The Work Continued After the Briefing
For me, one of the most important parts of the day happened after the formal briefing ended.
A door opened when we provided senior advisors to the President with a packet outlining California laws being violated, policy solutions, and the real-world consequences families are facing. And we did the very thing people often tell us not to do: we did NOT shy away from the health freedom issues.
Instead, we addressed them head-on, clearly, bravely, and directly. We explained the problems families, children, and doctors may face and seeking medical or religious exemptions, including denial, discrimination, and loss of access to schools, doctors’ offices, hospitals, services, and treatments.
We shared YOUR stories of discrimination and coercion. We shared your heartbreak and discouragement. And we communicated the freedoms being violated in our state, along with a direct plea for help.
That distinction matters because PERK has never been interested in simply being present in important rooms. We want to help move the conversation toward solutions.
Over the past six years, our work has taught us that meaningful change often begins when people are willing to show up, build relationships, understand the policy landscape, and offer clear solutions grounded in the experiences of real families. That is exactly what we did and what we intend to continue doing.
California Families Had a Voice in the Room
Perhaps the most meaningful question we were asked during these conversations was:
“What solutions do you have?”
That is a question PERK has spent years preparing to answer. We know what families have experienced when parental authority is ignored. We know what happens when children lose access to education because of government policies. We know what it looks like when religious convictions collide with mandates or bureaucratic systems. And we know how powerful parents can become when they understand the law, engage their representatives, organize their communities, and refuse to surrender their voice. That experience is precisely why our organization and leadership team continues to be invited into increasingly important conversations.
Now We Want to Hear From You
The most important ideas do not always begin in Washington. They often begin with a parent, teacher, doctor, first responder, pastor, or community member who sees a problem firsthand and knows there must be a better solution. So we want to ask you the same question we were asked: What solutions do you have?
What policies could strengthen parental rights? What changes could better protect religious freedom?
What barriers are families facing when it comes to their children’s education? Where are government policies making it harder, not easier, for parents to protect and care for their families?
We want to hear from you.
PERK has always been built by families standing together, and as new doors continue to open, we will continue carrying your experiences, concerns, and solutions with us.
This Is What Your Support Makes Possible
Every advocacy trip, legislative meeting, lawsuit, policy briefing, coalition meeting, and opportunity to represent families is made possible because people like you have chosen to stand with PERK.
Your support has helped take this movement from local school board meetings to Sacramento, Capitol Hill, and conversations within the White House.
We are grateful for every member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and family who has helped build PERK into the organization it is today. There is still tremendous work ahead.
But when the question is asked, “Who is speaking for parents and families?” PERK intends to be in the room and when we are there, your voice comes with us.
With gratitude,
Amy Bohn
President, PERK
Protecting Parental Rights. Protecting Children. Protecting Freedom.
