Planting the seeds of civic engagement for
generations to come
Sunshine Strategies NFP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to making civic engagement accessible and understandable for children and their families.
Our Mission
Sunshine Strategies is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to making civic engagement accessible and understandable for children and their families. Our focus is on educating and empowering the next generation of active citizens. We believe that every child has the right to be informed and engaged in the democratic process, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.
In 2018, Jen McMillin ran for the Illinois House with her family. Each week, her son would have a new, interesting question at 4 years old that Jen and her family would explore. This, coupled with Jen’s work in the nonprofit, education, and public sectors, highlighted the knowledge gap in civic engagement and local issues for local families of young children. Her desire to make politics understandable for young children which started at her kitchen table has led her to create Kids Political Radio in 2022. It has grown to encompass this unique nonprofit advocacy organization.
Sunshine Strategies provides advocacy and lobbying services for families with children, including families below the poverty line, those at risk of neglect, single-parent families, foster care, and multi-generational families.
Our Leadership
Our Initiatives
Expansion of Crisis Nursery Services in Illinois
Before families can be involved in their community in a meaningful way, they need to feel supported and heard from the very beginning. Not only is the crisis nursery program an established and successful service model, itis a resource that is consistently requested by Illinois communities. As the first piece of legislation to be supported by Sunshine Strategies, it opens the door to linking families to resources provided by their community from local, state, federal, and nonprofit providers.
Kids Political Radio
Connecting families to real-world legislation and civic action around them, Jen McMillin explains democracy in real-time with her family.
Kid & Family Engagement
Providing easy opportunities for parents and kids to share their voice in our democracy, including updates on current issues, upcoming events, and ways to participate at home.