Dear Educators and Parent Leaders,

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I first heard Rev. Jesse Jackson speak when I was a student in high school. He said, “You’re a man because you can raise a baby—not because you can make a baby.” That line stayed with me as I raised my own children. Years later, our paths crossed again while I was working on presidential campaigns. ​​

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Long before it became reality, he challenged the nation to imagine the possibility of a Black president and expanded what many believed was achievable. When I launched Project Appleseed, he offered powerful guidance about ​

organizing and empowering parents—wisdom that continues to shape our work today.

 

That belief—that parents matter, and that organizing families changes outcomes—sits at the heart of Project Appleseed.

I believe there is no social affiliation in contemporary America that offers more meaning than being a public school parent. Public schools unite us. Regardless of profession, income, politics, or our own school experiences, what we want for our children and grandchildren is remarkably consistent: opportunity, dignity, and success. In that sense, being a public school parent is like joining the largest and most equal membership organization in the country. Every family belongs. Every voice counts.

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Research consistently shows that when schools and families work together, student attitudes improve, attendance rises, homework completion increases, and achievement grows. Family engagement strengthens the most important bottom line—our children’s learning. It is practical. It is measurable. And it works.

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That is why Project Appleseed exists. We are a national campaign for public school improvement that celebrates and promotes meaningful family engagement. We encourage schools nationwide to observe National Parental Involvement Day and Public School Volunteer Week, and to build lasting systems that welcome families as partners in school improvement—not as occasional visitors.

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To educators: you shape the climate where partnership either grows or withers. Your leadership can create schools where families feel respected, informed, and empowered.

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To parents and caregivers: your involvement matters more than you may realize. Your expectations, your encouragement, and your partnership with teachers make a lasting difference.

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The future of American education will not be secured by policy alone. It will be strengthened by aligned adults—educators and families—working together with shared responsibility and common purpose.

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I invite you to join us in this work.

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Sincerely,

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Kevin S. Walker

President & Founder

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