Parent Voice Fellowship Cohort 4 Kicks Off with Purpose and Power

Candie A. Mitchell-Price
3 days ago
2 min read

On August 16, 2028, New Schools for Alabama (NSFA) proudly hosted the in-person kickoff of the Parent Voice Fellowship Cohort 4 at our Birmingham office—and what a powerful day it was! Parents from across the state gathered with open hearts, ready minds, and a shared commitment to advocate not only for their own children but for all students in Alabama’s public charter schools.

With nearly 80 applications and only one parent selected per school, this cohort represents some of the most passionate, informed, and engaged parent advocates in the state.

What Is Parent Voice?

The Parent Voice Fellowship is a statewide leadership and advocacy program designed to unite, support, and empower charter school parents through connection, training, and purpose-driven action.

Our mission is simple:

To amplify the voices of parents in Alabama’s charter school movement and ensure families are equipped to engage confidently at the schoolhouse, statehouse, and beyond.

Throughout the fellowship, participants will meet monthly via Zoom to learn about education funding, state policy, school performance, family advocacy, and more—all while building relationships with other leaders who are just as committed to driving change in their communities.

Kickoff Highlights

The kickoff event was full of energy, laughter, and inspiration. Here are just a few standout moments:

Charter Schools 101: Candie A. Mitchell-Price, Chief Communications Officer for NSFA, led an engaging session breaking down what public charter schools are—and why they matter.
Fellowship Overview: Parents learned about what’s ahead, including monthly sessions, resources, and how to engage throughout the year.
Headshots + Interviews: Fellows had a chance to professionally document their journey while sharing why advocacy matters to them.
Interactive Networking: Through powerful icebreakers and group activities, parents shared their personal “why” and formed meaningful new connections.
Alumni + Student Panel: One of the most moving parts of the day was hearing directly from former fellows and a current charter student, who reminded everyone of the real impact of raising your voice and standing in the gap. The session was facilitated by NSFA’s Communications Manager, ShaElla Askew-Henry.

Special Thanks

We’re so grateful to the many hands that made the day special:

ShaElla Askew-Henry (NSFA Communications Manager) and Patsy Douglass (Legacy Prep) for their thoughtful collaboration, planning, and support.
Bettie Davis, our caterer, who made sure everyone felt nourished and cared for
And, of course, every parent who showed up and leaned in—we are so proud to walk this journey with you.

Stay Connected

Want to follow the journey of Cohort 4 and everything our parents are doing to support the charter sector in Alabama?

Subscribe to our Charter Connect Magazine for news, resources, and fellowship updates:https://conta.cc/3mLBnqf
Alabama public charter school parents can follow our Parent Voice Network on Facebook to connect with other charter parents across Alabama.