Renee Roe reports, “ Being a Parent Leader has given me the opportunity to help others, and it has been a very rewarding experience. The leadership opportunities I've been given have helped me to grow to be a stronger person and become much more confident in my own abilities. But more importantly, it has helped me be a good example to my own daughter. I have seen her take on more leadership roles in her life recently. She and I have both grown as people because of Parents Anonymous^® . I have held the following leadership roles:

• Parent Leader for the Salem, Oregon Parents Anonymous^® Group
  
• Co-Chair of the Parents Anonymous^® Inc. National Parent Leadership Month Planning Committee
  
• Co-Chair of the NPLT National Parent Leadership Month Committee
  
• Co-Chair of the NPLT Systems Committee
  
• Secretary of the NPLT
  
• Co-Trainer with Parents Anonymous^® of Oregon staff on Shared Leadership in Action Program in many cities throughout the state of Oregon
  
• Co-Trainer with Parents Anonymous^® Inc. staff on Shared Leadership in Action Program at 2004 National Training Institute”

According to Ben Root, the Parents Anonymous^® Group Facilitator in Salem, Oregon, “I worked in shared leadership with Renee for more than a year while she was the Parent Group Leader of our group. Renee inspires me with her level of commitment, enthusiasm, honesty and consistency. She a true living example of the Parents Anonymous^® principles.”

Arthur Hernandez says, “With the support and training provided by Parents Anonymous^® Inc., I am helping others take on leadership roles. I have held the following leadership roles:

• Board member of Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County
• Member of Parents Anonymous^® Inc. National Parent Leadership Team^®
• Member of Parents Anonymous^® Inc. California Parent Leadership Team
• Advocate for the organization, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren ”

Eliza Cooper says, “Community is so important. Today we live great distances from our immediate families and if we live close to them there may be issues that keep us seemingly miles apart. If we realize that we have a better life and healthier communities by supporting one another on every level, then the stresses of life can be reduced, because we know we live in a caring environment. As parents, we can make that difference to our community. We can express our concerns and needs in a positive manner and expect to receive positive feedback and/or aid. That is Parent Leadership, helping our own family to be the best that it can be and helping others, whoever they may be. I have held the following leadership roles:                                  

• Co-Founder of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of Mocha Moms, which is a support group for at-home mothers of color. The group has grown into two chapters and is flourishing. I have also served three years on their National Board and sit on the council of elders for the Southern DC Chapter of Mocha Moms
  
• Built my own business as a certified herb specialist by giving lectures at the local library
  
• Parent consultant with an education based non-profit organization ( DC Parents for School Choice ) and have been working with that organization for the past four years
  
• Parent Group Leader of a Parents Anonymous^® Group and a member of the Parents Anonymous^® Parent Leadership Team in Metro DC
  
• Member of the Parents Anonymous^® Inc. National Parent Leadership Team
  
• Board member of Washington DC Chapter of the Black Alliance for Educational Options
  
• Parent advisor for:   Creating Parenting Rich Communities with the Child Welfare League of America ; DC Children's Trust Fund ; the Mayor's Task Force for Creating Drug and Violent Free Schools and Center for Student Support Services Tasks Force Review Committee
  
• Active Parent Leader at my child's school and involved with the PTA, including serving on the PTA Executive Committee ”    

According to Monica Z. Utsey, President, Southern D.C. Chapter of Mocha Moms, Inc., "Working in shared leadership with Eliza has been a wonderful experience.  She truly knows what shared leadership is about, allowing all those who work with her to flourish and grow, achieving their potential that they didn't know they had.  Her positive encouragement in the face of obstacles helps you to keep your eye on the goal.  I have worked with Eliza as a School Choice Advocate and as a passionate supporter of Mocha Moms, Inc., a national support group for stay-at-home mothers of color.  She currently serves on our board as a member of the Council of Elders, a position held by highly esteemed Mocha Moms with lots of mother wisdom to share.  She also finds time in her busy schedule to write and edit our quarterly news bulletins.  What impresses me the most about Eliza is her ability to work with all kinds of people and all sorts of personalities.  Her passion for children and their success is amazing given all that she does.  She is in a unique position to understand the educational needs of parents as a homeschooling mother and a mother with children in public charter schools.  Eliza's work ethic is uncompromising and she always has a smile on her face."

Jill Gentry states, “Being a Parent Leader has been a wonderful life-altering adventure. I am thankful to those people who saw my potential when I didn't and gave me opportunities to learn and grow in leadership roles. Through leadership, I have gained knowledge, confidence, self-esteem and experience. The benefits have been endless. My greatest accomplishment is the modeling I do for my family. They have all seen the changes and growth in me that have been ongoing for over a decade. My children know and trust that I will always be here to advocate for them and, they in turn, are learning to use their own voices and face their own challenges.  They've learned that they too can set goals and accomplish them.

I am also passionate about promoting shared leadership. I know that the parent perspective is a vital component for strengthening services and programs that impact families. I want to help other parents to be empowered and share in the many benefits of leadership. It's an exciting process. Being a Parent Leader is more than something that I do, it is part of who I am. Some of my leadership roles include:

• Spokesperson for Parents Anonymous^®
  
• Board Member of Parents Anonymous^® of Oregon
  
• Member of the Community Safety Net Statewide Steering Committee
  
• Co-Chair of the National Parent Leadership Team^®
  
• Co-Trainer/Presenter with Parents Anonymous^® staff in numerous trainings and conferences
  
• Member of the Improving Permanency Options Project steering committee (child welfare in Oregon)
  
• Member of Parents Anonymous^® Inc. Child Maltreatment Prevention Workgroup”

Terry Ochsenbine says, “ It has been an honor to work closely with the staff in the shared leadership model. It gives me more opportunities to work in the community to help others make positive changes in their lives. Some of my leadership roles include:

• Co-presenting at speaking engagements with the Program Director
  
• Outreach to local businesses to promote Parents Anonymous^® Programs
  
• Sharing leadership with staff on Parents Anonymous^® fundraising efforts
  
• Co-planning special events for families (annual hayride, raffle, egg hunt)
  
• Sharing leadership with Parents Anonymous^® Children's Program staff in developing and distributing “holiday gifts” to residents at local retirement community. ”