Glenbard Parent Series, Gilda Ross earn Changemaker Award

Congratulations to Glenbard District 87 Student and Community Projects Coordinator Gilda Ross and the Glenbard Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families on earning a Changemaker Award from the DuPage County Health Department and Prevention Leadership Team.

The award honors individuals, organizations and communities who are leading the way in prevention efforts and going above and beyond to protect young people in DuPage County by making positive change in the community. It recognizes those who work tirelessly on prevention efforts and advocate for strong prevention policies or campaigns focused on prevention and the protection of youth in their community.

Ross has done a phenomenal job coordinating and growing the Glenbard Parent Series, a nationally recognized program. The Glenbard Parent Series is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The Glenbard Parent Series presents national experts, local educators and regional resources to share information and strategies about issues that families and young people face. Details about GPS are available at glenbardgps.org.

The dozens of free GPS events presented each year include programs presented in Spanish, the Navigating Higher Education Saturday Series and events presented by Glenbard District 87’s Equity and Inclusion Committee and Families United in Support of Excellence and Equity for all, especially students that identify as African American or Black (FUSE). During the pandemic, GPS programs are being presented as webinars.

The Glenbard Parent Series is supported by numerous annual sponsors, program sponsors and those who provide in-kind donations. It has become a model program used by other school districts for their parent programs.

In addition to several other community partnerships, Ross works with the DuPage County Health Department and Reality Illinois/Teen Advisory Board. High school students from across the county who participate in Reality Illinois strengthen their leadership skills and advocate for healthy lifestyle behaviors. They promote policy changes that reduce youth substance use and tobacco use and increase mental wellness.

Their many accomplishments include successfully advocating several park district boards and village boards for smoke-free parks and the passage of Tobacco 21, a state law that requires an individual to be at least 21 years old to purchase tobacco in Illinois.