In this Season 2 episode of The ParentCamp Podcast, host April F. Draine is joined by Julie Pile, President of ParentCamp, and ParentCamp coach Maz Ashraf for an inspiring conversation about what happens when parents move beyond their comfort zones and step into their power. Maz shares her personal journey as a stay-at-home parent, immigrant, and mother navigating a new education system—first feeling like she was “just a parent,” and later realizing she is the parent. Together, the group explores how ParentCamp creates inclusive spaces where families feel safe, valued,…
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Working Beyond the Barriers: Family Engagement, Curiosity, and Advocacy with YF Lou
In this Season 2 episode of The ParentCamp Podcast, hosts April F. Draine and Julie Pile sit down with parent advocate, school board member, and community leader YF Lou for an honest conversation about removing barriers to family engagement in education. Drawing from his lived experience as a single parent, a father of two children with one being on the autism spectrum, and a healthcare quality professional, YF shares how well-intentioned systems can unintentionally exclude families—and what schools and communities can do differently. Together, the group unpacks “education-ese,” explores the…
Read MoreSpark New Connections: Join Virtual ParentCamp on December 10! Special room just for Arabic speaking families!
Welcome back for an evening of learning, connection, and empowerment at Virtual ParentCamp! Engage in meaningful conversations, share success stories, and strengthen your community—all from the comfort of home.Join us for Virtual ParentCamp on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT/ 6 pm MT/ 5 pm PT! As always, we use Mighty Networks to safely connect with our parents and community. This space is for you to use to connect and share with our community nationwide and globally. Share with me your summer adventures and what you…
Read MoreFrom Classrooms to Careers: Building Bridges at October’s Virtual ParentCamp
Welcome back for an evening of learning, connection, and empowerment at Virtual ParentCamp! Engage in meaningful conversations, share success stories, and strengthen your community—all from the comfort of home.Join us for Virtual ParentCamp on Wednesday, October 16, 2025 at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT/ 6 pm MT/ 5 pm PT! As always, we use Mighty Networks to safely connect with our parents and community. This space is for you to use to connect and share with our community nationwide and globally. Share with me your summer adventures and what you…
Read MoreFunding with Purpose: Aligning Budgets to Student Needs with Nathan Williamson of Mazi Education
Summary In this episode of The ParentCamp Podcast, host April F. Draine sits down with Nathan Williamson, founder of Mazi Education, and Julie Pile, President of ParentCamp. Nathan shares how his team helps schools flip the script on budgeting—ensuring dollars fund meaningful plans rather than simply filling budget lines. Together, they discuss the challenges schools face with family engagement, how COVID shifted the landscape, and why it’s critical to see “children behind the numbers.” Listeners will walk away with actionable insights on aligning funding with strategic goals, partnering across schools…
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