Expanding Parent Influence from Region to State
Since the official launch of Birth to Five Illinois in February 2022, dedicated parents and caregivers in all 39 Illinois Regions have been sharing their stories and providing valuable feedback on local Early Childhood Education and Care programs as members of the Birth to Five Illinois Family Councils and Action Councils.
The new Birth to Five Illinois Statewide Family Leadership Council is comprised of Family Council alumni who have served for three years in their respective Regions. In this role, past Birth to Five Illinois Family Council members will continue to offer their perspectives as direct users of Illinois’ Early Childhood services and help Birth to Five Illinois improve its family and community engagement efforts across the State.
The Council had its first meeting in September 2025 and will convene every other month. Members can serve for one year and are paid a stipend for their time and expertise. They will be offered opportunities to participate in other state-level activities, which may include providing feedback on public-facing communication materials, co-leading parent discussion groups, or joining interviews with press.
Additionally, based on their experience as parents/caregivers and their time on the Regional Birth to Five Illinois Councils, this inaugural statewide group decided that finding ways to make families more aware of the available Early Childhood Education and Care resources, supports, and programs is the greatest need and thus their chosen priority for the year.
Birth to Five Illinois is proud to introduce the fiscal year 2026 (FY2026) members, representing 28 of Illinois’ 39 Regions.
FY2026 Birth to Five Illinois Statewide Family Leadership Council Members:
- Region 1-A: Alisa Radcliffe, Roseland (Cook County)
- Region 1-B-B: Jukselin Nuñez, Northlake (Cook County)
- Region 1-B-C: Simone Gatlin, Oak Lawn (Cook County)
- Region 3: Meghan Rewers, Effingham (Effingham County)
- Region 8: Lauren Dick, Lena (Stephenson County)
- Region 12: Samantha Weidner, Louisville (Clay County)
- Region 13: Hannah Raney, Woodlawn (Jefferson County)
- Region 19: Kimberly Choate, Downers Grove (DuPage County)
- Region 20: Christy Vaughan, McLeansboro (Hamilton County)
- Region 21: Emily Crowell, West Frankfort (Franklin County)
- Region 24: Michelle Lynn Strom, Plano (Kendall County)
- Region 26: Kelly Nelson, Macomb (McDonough County)
- Region 28: Emily Rorem, Wyoming (Stark County)
- Region 30: Sheridan Johnson Sr., Carbondale (Jackson County)
- Region 31: LuAnna Handley, Aurora (Kane County)
- Region 32: Ali Denault, Bourbonnais (Kankakee County)
- Region 33: Marie Laure Lamare, Galesburg (Knox County)
- Region 39: Sammantha Barrera, Decatur (Macon County)
- Region 40: Kelly Ballard, Roodhouse (Greene County)
- Region 41: Dawna Miller, Highland (Madison County)
- Region 45: Brittany Rongey, Waterloo (Monroe County)
- Region 47: Candace Antczak, Mount Morris (Ogle County)
- Region 48: Kerishena Deal, Peoria (Peoria County)
- Region 50: Katie Manno, Belleville (St. Clair County)
- Region 51: LeAnn Bell, Springfield (Sangamon County)
- Region 53: Allisa List, Mason City (Mason County)
- Region 54: Tateana Bailey, Danville (Vermilion County)
- Region 56: Krista Escamillo, Plainfield (Will County)
Learn more at: www.birthtofiveil.com/advisory
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About Birth to Five Illinois
Birth to Five Illinois’ mission is to create a statewide regional infrastructure that will amplify input from communities in the development of policies and funding priorities. We support the mobilization of communities to build and sustain equitable access to inclusive, high-quality early childhood services for all children and families in the state of Illinois.
