‘Time for parents to really assert their power.’ How Kilolo Moyo-White puts parents first

Kilolo Moyo-White believes in centering parents’ voices.

After moving to Rochester from Pennsylvania last August, Moyo-White joined ROC the Future’s Parent Engagement Collaborative Action Network (PECAN) as a parent leader.

A year later, she joined ROC the Future’s staff as the family and community engagement specialist.

In this capacity, Moyo-White has already facilitated multiple programs and events.

Most recently, the organization held a celebration of parents. The event featured a trivia game, music and was a celebration and acknowledge of all of the work members put in last year.

With all that 2020 encompassed, it was not an easy year for most parents and families. A bright spot was PECAN’s ability to both connect parents and families with each other and with resources.

“We do see a lot of great community resources where the community is coming together and supporting those people who are in need and having struggles,” Moyo-White said. “We just have to reach out and be able to access those resources. We share a lot of that on our PECAN Facebook page and (by) tapping into other parent networks.”

When RCSD was online last semester, and with social distancing being the safest and most responsible thing for people who are able to do so, Moyo-White said that parents relied heavily upon their various networks. She said that some created learning pods with their neighbors, while others worked through the art centers and others still utilized library book-share programs. PECAN shares ideas and opportunities with parents and caregivers.