Jan's Plans & Pans - September 11, 2022

This past week, I hosted a gun violence listening session at the Glenview Public Library. I heard from students from Glenbrook South, New Trier, and Maine West. I also spoke with advocates from Moms Demand Action. What I heard in that room was power. Students and activists have had enough. Bulletproof backpacks, active shooter drills, and planned escape routes. These are just some of the things our students are forced to deal with. Kids no longer feel safe in school. We can't sit back. We need action, and we need it now. I am committed to making a change. Our future generations are depending on us.

I also spent some time this week talking with parents and staff at the JCC Chicago Early Childhood Collaborative about the rising costs of child care. In Illinois, there are more than 250,000 children that cannot access child care due to higher costs and lower availability. All families deserve access to affordable early childhood education and teachers deserve higher wages.