Voices of Parent Leaders

Sharing the Journey

Sharing the Journey: Voices of Parent Leaders was created by the parent leaders of the FRIENDS National Center Parent Advisory Council (PAC) who work in their communities and nationally to help family support and child abuse prevention practitioners and organizations.

The resources include the 2022 collection of fourteen audio stories, including one in Spanish, and the 2017 collection of twenty audio stories including two in Spanish, and three animated/illustrated videos.  Spoken with his/her authentic voice, each parent shares a unique story of how their lived experiences or parent leadership journey has positively impacted their personal growth and the well-being of their children, families, and community. These vignettes may be used to increase public awareness or as tools to support training for staff, network members, partners, parents, and other key prevention stakeholders about the value of meaningful parent engagement and involvement.

Cupeles Father As PF Spanish 2022.2

La importancia de un padre como factor de protección

Una historia sobre la importancia de un padre como factor de protección. Para descargar la versión en audio de esta historia, visite:  https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/la-importancia-de-un-padre-como-factor-de-proteccion
Henao Self Love 2022

Self Love Heights is Possible

A story about loving yourself through trauma by Marcela Henao. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/self-love-heights-is-possible
Reddick Showing Up 2022

Showing Up as a Noncustodial Parent

A story of advocating for yourself as a non-custodial parent by Elizabeth Reddick To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/showing-up-as-a-noncustodial-parent
Stenston BrighterFuture 2022

A Brighter Future for ALL Children

A story about a parent's journey with a child with special healthcare needs by Heather Stenson. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/a-brigther-future-for-all-children
Queen Force Mulitplier 2022

Force Multiplier

A story about fatherhood and building bridges between programs and minority communities by Anthony Queen. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/force-multiplier
Bibbs Samuels Only Fight 2022

No Flight, Only Fight

A story about advocating and being the voice for children by Paula Bibbs-Samuels. To download the audio version of this story, visit:  https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/no-flight-only-fight
Lebanion Asking Help 2022

Asking for Help

A story about kinship caregiving and not being afraid to ask for help by Valerie Lebanion. To download the audio version of this story, visit:  https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/asking-for-help
Graham Unstoppable 2022

Unstoppable

A story about resilience and empowering other parents by Eileen Graham. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/unstoppable
Hodgeman Healing Lead 2022

Healing to Lead

A story about the acknowledgement of the importance of healing by Joanne Hodgeman. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/healing-to-lead
Zimmerman Coparenting Hope 2022

Co-parenting Gave Me Hope

A story about co-parenting by Melissa Zimmerman. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/co-parenting-gave-me-hope
Armstrong Invisible Visible 2022

Making the Invisible, Visible!

A story about fatherhood and accessing services by David Armstrong. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/making-the-invisible-visible
Williams Just Ask 2022

Just Ask: Utilizing Resources Can Make a Difference

A story about asking for help by Vadonna Williams. To download the audio version of this story, visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/just-ask-utilizing-resources-can-make-a-difference
Johnson God Has Sense Of Humor 2022

God Has a Sense of Humor

A story about adoption and working with the foster care system by Anntoinette Johnson. To download he audio version of this story visit: https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/god-has-a-sense-of-humor
Cupeles Father As PF 2022

The Importance of a Father as a Protective Factor

A story about the importance of fathers by Michael Cupeles. To download the audio version of this story, visit:  https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/the-importance-of-a-father-as-a-protective-factor
Sam Blue Practitioners 2017

Working with Practitioners

A story about working with practitioners as a support and partnership by Sam. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/working-with-practitioners
Coparent Illus

The Grandparent/Co-parent Story Illustrated Version

An illustrated story about parents and grandparents working together to parent children by Dawn. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/grandparent-co-parent-story
Patzer Grandparent 2017

The Grandparent/Co-parent Story

A story about parents and grandparents working together to parent children by Dawn. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/grandparent-co-parent-story
Patzer Neglect 2017

Story of Neglect

A story about neglect and its impact by Dawn. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/story-of-neglect
Gentry CycleofAbuse 2017

Stopping the Cycle of Abuse

A story about the cycle of abuse and prevention by Jill. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/stopping-cycle-abuse
Cooper Prevention 2017

Primary Prevention

A story about primary prevention by Eliza. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/primary-prevention
Gentry ParentVoices 2017

Parent Voices Make a Difference

A story about how parents can advocate for themselves and others by Jill. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/parent-voices-make-difference
Stodghill PL Journey 2017

Parent Leadership Journey

A story about the journey of a parent leader by Beth. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/parent-leadership-journey-beth
Cooper PLeadership 2017

Parent Leadership

A story about mentoring Parent Leaders by Eliza. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/parent-leadership-by-eliza
Galindo MySon Spanish 2017

Mi Hijo

Una historia sobre los hijos en español de Fátima. Para descargar la versión en audio de esta historia, visite https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/my-son-spanish
Galindo MySon English 2017

My Son (English)

A story about sons by Fatima. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/my-son-english
Cooper Mentoring 2017

Mentoring Parent Leaders

A story about parent leader mentorship by Eliza. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/mentoring-parent-leaders
Sam Fuhrmann Grandmothers 2017

Let’s Go Get Those Grandmothers

A story about the role grandmother's can play by Sam. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/grandmothers
Cooper Journey 2017

Leadership Journey

A story about the journey to parent leadership by Eliza. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/leadership-journey
Bynum Kinship 2017

Kinship

A story about taking care of family by Bruce. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/kinship
Diel JessicasStory 2017

Jessica’s Story

A story about her personal journey by Jessica. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/friends-jessicadial-story
Hillman HerStory 2017

Her Story

A journey about parent leadership by Dena. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/friends-denahillman-story1
Hillman HerDaughtersStory 2017

Her Daughter’s Story

A story about daughter's and how they can be impacted by Dena. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/friends-denahillman-daughter
Wagon Illus

Help Me To Pull This Wagon Illustrated Version

An illustrated story on fathers and parent engagement by Sam Blue. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/sam-blue-wagon-story 
Sam Blue Wagon 2017

Help Me To Pull This Wagon

About father engagement by Sam Blue. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/sam-blue-wagon-story 
Bynum Fatherhood 2017

Fatherhood

Talking fatherhood by Bruce Bynum. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/fatherhood
Galindo Advocating Spanish 2017

Abogando por Mi Hijo Como Inmigrante y Madre

Abogando por mi hijo como madre en español por Fátima. Para descargar la versión en audio de esta historia, visite https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/advocating-son-spanish
Galindo Advocating English 2017

Advocating for My Child as an Immigrant and Mother (English)

Advocating for my child by Fatima. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/advocating-son-english 
Illus Caring Adult

Illustrated A Caring Adult Makes a Difference in a Child’s Life

A Caring Adult Makes a Difference in a Child's Life Known as "My Secret Life" - Beth's story has won 3 Telly Awards for 2019. They include: Gold Telly in...
Stodghill Caring Adult 2017

A Caring Adult Makes a Difference in a Child’s Life

A story about how a caring adult can impact the overall journey of a child. To download the audio version of this story, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-616990317/caring-adult