The issue of access to early education in low-income communities is gaining attention, as last month’s Catalyst cover stories indicate.  But largely untold is the role of activist mothers and grandmothers in Chicago neighborhoods in first identifying the problem and initiating action on it.

Black and Latina members of POWER-PAC will present findings and tell stories from a two-year research and outreach program in which they knocked on 5,000 doors in 19 low and moderate income communities — and found 40 to 65 percent of preschool-age children were not enrolled in preschool or head start.  They’ll release a report at a press conference tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the office of Community Organizing and Family Issues, 954 W. Washington.

One finding is that the confusing and frustrating maze of federal and state programs, with complex eligibility requirements and little networking, is itself a major obstacle for parents in low-income communities.  And one lesson is the importance of involving the people who are most affected by policies in their formation and implementation.

Here’s our Newstip from December 2007.