2016 CSA Campaign Starts Strong with Parent Leadership

Last week, we convened 20 parent leaders with Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) to kick off the 2016 season of our Universal Children’s Saving Account (CSA) Campaign. The parents are from different communities across Illinois, including East St. Louis, Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin, and they are all leading advocates in our CSA Campaign.

These leaders helped facilitate three Learning Summits last year to engage parents in the movement for a universal CSA program in Illinois. They led conversations about the importance of a college education, the barriers families face in trying to go to college, and how a CSA can be a tool to help children reach their dreams.

At our convening last week, we met with the Director of Bright Start, Illinois’ 529 college savings program.

We learned about the nuts and bolts of the Bright Start program, and shared recommendations to expand it so that every child in Illinois has a college savings account in their name. There was no shortage of questions about how Bright Start works!

With all of this knowledge under our belts, we are excited to spread the word about universal CSA programs and engage even more parents with CSA Learning Summits this year! Learn more about our Children’s Saving Account Campaign, and contact us if you are interested in hosting a CSA Learning Summit at your organization.