Strong Families Build Strong Communities
The MVP Strong Families Partnership Network brings grassroots organizations together with community-based organizations to give BIPOC parents nurturing, inspiring, family-based experiences that strengthen parent advocacy and leadership skills.
The network empowers individuals and organizations that typically work in silos to connect and partner with others doing similar work, share expertise, and expand their reach to BIPOC families in underserved neighborhoods.
Parent Ambassadors and network members receive direct investment to support their work. Parent Ambassadors receive annual stipends in recognition of their important role and their community work. Network members receive financial support to augment family events with necessary supplies, marketing materials, and food for participants.
All families participating in programming are given access to free tickets to family fun events and sporting events that are too often out of reach for families due to cost. POLIS Institute brings its expertise in community engagement and partnership convening to help partners expand caregiver programming that builds leadership and advocacy skills among their participants.
What Changed
MVP Strong Families reaches over 1,200 caregivers and parents and their children each year. Caregivers and parents show significant increases in their knowledge base of positive parenting tools, and expand their network of people and resources to further their family’s dreams.
At the same time, six network member organizations are expanding their capacity while increasing their reach to minority and low-income families. Network members are seeing marked improvements in parent and caregiver engagement as a result of Strong Families supported events. That means more caregivers at parent teacher conferences and childhood development screenings, and healthy children on track to reach milestones with parents at their side.
Solutions Applied
- Paid parent ambassadors
- Grassroots capacity building resources
- Impact network development
- Asset based community development tools
Crystal Hamilton
Crystal Hamilton is the Founder and Executive Director of GO!MOM Empowers, Inc., where she leads initiatives that empower single mothers to rise, thrive, and overcome barriers. Inspired by her own journey as a single mother, Crystal created GO!MOM to equip women with the support, resources, and confidence to make informed decisions about their finances, mental health, relationships, and future.
As Program Leadership Partner for MVP Strong Families, she also provides leadership and coordination that strengthens collaboration, accountability, and impact across the partner network.