From Neighborhood Park to Parent Leaders
Children do not get themselves ready for school. School readiness happens when families and communities are engaged, informed, equipped, and supported. It takes a coordinated system of supports—early learning, family literacy, health care, and community connections—to help children thrive. When families are connected to trusted resources and invited into meaningful participation, they build the confidence, knowledge, and voice needed to support their children’s development and to shape the systems that serve them.
Below is the story of Dulce Trujillo, written by Dulce herself – a mom whose journey shows what’s possible when families are met with opportunities instead of barriers. Dulce came to the Greater Elgin Area seeking stability and a sense of belonging for her family while navigating isolation and a language barrier in a new community. EPEL first met Dulce during community outreach at a neighborhood park. Through those trusted connections, she was introduced to family literacy programs, English as a Second Language classes, early childhood resources, and leadership opportunities that supported both her role as a parent and her personal growth.
What began as access to resources grew into engagement, and engagement grew into leadership. Dulce has worked diligently to learn English and is now confidently participating bilingually in spaces that influence how systems support families. She serves on family councils, has participated as a panelist in community-wide early childhood collaboration meetings, and is an active member of the Illinois Birth to Five Illinois Family Committee. In these roles, Dulce brings the voice of lived experience—helping shift attitudes, inform policies, and ensure that programs are more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to families today and in the future.
Dulce’s story, shared below in her own words, illustrates how investing in families builds not only children’s readiness for school, but also family leadership and long-term community impact.