Raising Our Voices: Nourishing Families, Fueling Impact

Join us for a virtual gathering September 24, 2025, 12 - 1 pm CT

This September, Raising Illinois is bringing the coalition together for a virtual event centered on the importance of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). WIC is a federally funded program that promotes the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, as well as their infants and children up to age 5, who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating and resource referrals. We are particularly excited to highlight ways to strengthen connections and referrals from early childhood programs to ensure that all families who are eligible for WIC are able to take part.

During this event you will:

Hear from families who have first-hand experience accessing and utilizing WIC
Learn more about how early childhood programs and providers can strengthen connections between families and WIC
Learn what opportunities the state can explore to promote cross-agency collaboration and ensure families across Illinois have what they need to thrive
Learn how you can take action to protect these family supports in the future

Having done this for so many years now, you could feel fatigued in it but I feel energized every day because the truth is there are people in all aspects of this fight for better early childhood services that bring me energy.

-Karen Berman

Managing Director, Illinois Policy at Start Early

Other Events From Raising Illinois

Haven't joined us before? Check out our Raising Our Voices: Setting Our Compass for the Years Ahead event!

Raising Illinois' Raising Our Voices: Setting Our Compass event brought the coalition together to reflect on our first five years and the process of refreshing our Prenatal-to-Three Policy Agenda to ensure it reflects the current needs of infants, toddlers and expecting families across our state.

Check it Out!

Community Conversation Toolkit

Resources created for your community to come together and discuss solutions to challenges families with infants and toddlers are facing today.

Raising Illinois invites you to bring together diverse individuals within your community and discuss the needs of infants, toddlers and expecting families in your area as well as steps that can and should be taken to strengthen your community's early childhood system.

Community Conversations can take many shapes and forms depending on who you invite and the size of your community. It is the conversation that is critical – not the format, size or location. To help get your planning started, Raising Illinois has created a handful of helpful resources.

Learn More