Advocate of the week: April Janney
One of the leading advocacy groups in Illinois is Illinois Action for Children, with a rallying mission statement: We are a catalyst and champion for real change and better life outcomes for children and families in Illinois. This organization provides direct services to families, locates resources for families and educators, involves the local community to support young children, collaborates with policymakers and legislators to improve all aspects of early childhood, and conducts research to make evidence-based recommendations for enhancing early childhood education (Illinois Action for Children, n.d.). It takes a lot of organization and commitment to head up such a worthy organization, and April Janney has what it takes. As the CEO of Illinois Action for Children, April is dedicated to improving the lives of young children. April comes from the West Side of Chicago, one of twelve children. She was the first, and only, one in her family to graduate from college, achiev...