From “My Child” to “Our Children” – Fostering Positive Family Advocacy as a Path to Educational Equity

A conversation between **Liz Dempsey Lee**, author of *Parents as Advocates: Supporting K-12 Students and their Families Across Identities* and **Janise Hurtig**, Lived Places Publishing Collection Editor.Family advocacy – the practice of families advocating for their school-aged children – is constantly evolving; indeed, family advocacy in schools is a reflection of this moment in time and of the various dynamics at work in society. In some ways, the dynamics of family advocacy have led to better education and stronger family-school relationships; in other ways, they have become louder and more contentious. More generally, family advocacy continues to be uneven across social identities, with some families being heard frequently and clearly, while others are not heard at all.At times, families and educators alike approach family advocacy with trepidation. However, family advocacy does not have to be a scary prospect. Both parents and educators can walk into advocacy with a set of tools and strategies to navigate the moment, to pull forward the voices of families less heard and to harness the function of K12 education as a town forum. In this conversation, we will discuss how recognizing and addressing family advocacy is critical to creating educational equity. We’ll also explore how conflict is a normal and expected byproduct of the family-school relationship and how demystifying and educating families around effective advocacy can build relationships and move educational communities from a focus on “my child” to a focus on “our children.”