T.I.G.E.R. – Training Individuals for Grassroots Education Reform

Learning Rights is well-known throughout Los Angeles County for our grassroots method of education advocacy that includes both legal strategies, as well as community organizing and parent empowerment.  Since 2005, we have been instrumental in organizing and empowering hundreds of parents of children with disabilities in South Los Angeles, Montebello, East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Highland Park, Downey, Bellflower, Whittier, Pico Rivera and Inglewood. LRLC staff works closely with our partners at WCLC and LMU and together we have conducted 70 hands-on training sessions, 2 Town Hall Meetings and 3 trips with 100 parents to advocate in Sacramento and at local school board meetings.

TIGER is a self-advocacy training that provides parents with the power and knowledge to advocate for their child’s education without lawyers or other advocates; Learning Rights has witnessed many of them comfortably advocate and succeed on the behalf of their children.  These parents have become great advocates not only for their own children, but also for the children in their community who struggle to receive an equitable education.

Another result of TIGER has been the creation over the past two years of TIGER Community Groups.  The TIGER Community Groups program is a result of graduates from our TIGER Program who went back to their communities to be of service to others. There are now 5 Community Groups located in Whittier, Highland Park, Downey, Inglewood, and Montebello.  Each Community Group has between 15 to 40 parents.  These Community Groups are supported by LRLC through an advanced “Coaching Program” which helps parents learn community organizing skills and support methods of advocacy.

If you are interested in an application for our 2012 Beginning TIGER Program please contact Leticia Mejia at 213-489-4030 Ext 103 or Leticia@learningrights.org