Parents Becoming Leaders

Un Un Che

Un Un Che emigrated to San Francisco from China in 2004. She soon found a job, but it didn’t pay much. And her daughter Jenny needed child care. Un Un was referred to Children’s Council. Our staff helped Un Un obtain financial assistance for Jenny to attend preschool so she could continue working.

Through her years of raising three daughters and working multiple part-time jobs, Un Un learned first-hand what a crucial difference child care financial assistance makes for both children and parents.

“I joined Parent Voices to help more families get child care,” said Un Un. “Many immigrants don’t know how to get help. So I speak out for them and try to get more Asian parents involved in Parent Voices.”

Un Un describes herself as shy. But she is passionate about the importance of quality child care. With coaching from Parent Voices, she first spoke publicly at a rally at San Francisco’s City Hall attended by 400 people, including several members of the Board of Supervisors.

Un Un’s remarks at City Hall were all in Chinese. She recalls that even though most people in the audience did not know her language, they could still feel her spirit. Afterwards several people thanked and hugged her. “I felt very touched. I feel like my voice is no longer small. My voice has spread out and people can hear me.”

Since then Un Un has gone on to speak at a statewide rally and even testified in Sacramento before the California Assembly Budget Committee.

“Parent Voices taught me that when I speak I do not only represent myself, I am there to fight for thousands of families,” said Un Un. “The politicians listened to what I said. I showed them how child care impacts a family’s life.”

Un Un’s development as a leader for herself and for her community have been fostered by the local Parent Voices chapter sponsored by Children’s Council.

Your support can help more parents like Un Un become powerful advocates for all of California’s families.