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NPN is looking for volunteers to serve on NPN's online auction committee. If you are interested, email Amy at amy@npnparents.org or call her at 773-789-7002.   What is the online auction? NPN's annual online auction is NPN's largest fundraiser! We need to raise $20,000 to meet our goal. It will run from March 12 - 16, 2025.   Who are you looking for? Ten people with great connections and anyone comfortable asking for donations.    What will the committee d

Whether online or in person, NPN, a non-profit 501(c)(3), makes it easy to find support, must-have information and educational, fun events. NPN has been connecting Chicago parents for more than 45 years!  We achieve our mission by providing Chicago families with: Parent support such as active discussion forums, parent education workshops, informative articles, playdates, and other get-togethers School-choice resources such as our Annual Preschool & Elementary School Fair and School & Da

Volunteer Title  Board Member    This is a volunteer position requiring 1-5 hours per month.    Organization  Founded in 1980, the Neighborhood Parents Network of Chicago, (NPN), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to connect a diverse community of families with the support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. NPN helps parents research schools, navigate developmental differences, and get parent-to-parent advice.

⬅️ Newer seasons SEASON 1 Season 1, Episode 14: NPN Weekly Roundup April Edition Listen here: Spotify | Apple Podcasts Published: 5/2/25 Description: Laura Baginski, of Earlybirds Club, joins Amy and Sitaara to dive deep into NPN's popular email, the NPN Weekly. We talk about the amazing vibes of Earlybirds Club and relocating for incentives. We touch on the 450% increase in birth rate for women over the age 45 and the ups and downs of parenting at any age. We also discuss the mindboggling stati

⬅️ Newer seasons Season 2, Episode 13: Childbirth, Parenting, & Transformational Pain Listen here: Spotify | Apple Podcasts Published: 8/25/26 In this episode we discuss parenting transitions from childbirth to the empty-nest stage, and how we can approach these transitions with confidence and calm.  The term “mindfulness” is thrown around a lot these days, but what is it, really? Is bringing “mindfulness” to childbirth helpful? Will it make childbirth less painful? What is "transformational

Whether online or in person, NPN makes it easy to find support, must-have information and amazing city events. Join our network of thousands of Chicago parents and share advice, resources, and support. Choose the membership that works best for you! Option 1: Community Membership  Get free access to trusted parenting resources RSVP to playdates, parent education events, the developmental differences parent support group, and more Access our parent-education videos Use the NPN directories to fin

On Monday, September 2, 2024, NPN Executive Director Amy Johnson and Developmental Differences Advisory Committee member Kimberly Johnson had an opportunity to talk about DDRF with WGN anchors Patrick Elwood and Brónagh Tumulty on WGN Midday News. Watch the clip on WGN or hit play in the video below.     Your browser does not support the video tag.

Have a question, no matter how personal? NPN’s discussion forum is a message board where you can post questions and comments, then get answers from other parents. This is a mom message board, dad message board, parent message board. All of NPN's members are welcome here.  Social media is great for connecting with friends, but when you have questions about sensitive topics—about your kids, your marriage, your health, your mother-in-law—you want to be free and open with your feelings without worry

Thank you for donating to Neighborhood Parents Network. Your generosity allows NPN, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to give fee-waived memberships to families in need via our Fund a Family campaign. Donations also allow us to provide programs such as our Developmental Differences Parent Support Group, online tools such as our School & Daycare Directory, and events like our Annual Preschool & Elementary School Fair. Employers can support their employees by providing them with the value-added ser

Use these free downloadables for your social media photos! Tag us in your photos (@NPNParents #NPN) on Instagram and Facebook for a chance to win a FREE annual membership.                               

Donate an NPN membership to a family in need!   Over the 43 years we have been serving Chicago parents, our members have told us how important it is to have NPN's objective, smart, helpful school-search tools that empower you to make an informed decision about your child's education.   And how crucial it is to get parent-to-parent advice and answers about schools—and any other questions parents might have—on our member discussion forum.    Imagine what a differ

Make a Big Impact This Giving Tuesday!   Your small donation adds up to big support for Chicago families! Thank you for selecting a donation amount below.      Donate Now and Make an Impact! Whether it's $2 or $5, every contribution counts and helps us reach our goal of connecting a diverse community of families by providing the support and resources families need to navigate parenting in Chicago.   Why only $2 or $5? No

Your browser does not support the video tag. FOX 32 Chicago January 16, 2026 Your browser does not support the video tag. WGN January 20, 2026  

Volunteer Title  Internship: Auction Coordinator   This is a part-time internship position requiring a minimum of 10 hours per week. The position can start as early as 8/21/23 and ends 4/1/24.   Organization  Founded in 1980, the Neighborhood Parents Network of Chicago, (NPN), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to connect a diverse community of families with the support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. NPN h

Volunteer Title  Intern: Grants Manager   This is a part-time internship position requiring a minimum of 10 hours per week. This internship can start as early as 8/21/23. We ask for a time commitment of at least three months but ideally six to twelve months.   Organization  Founded in 1980, the Neighborhood Parents Network of Chicago, (NPN), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to connect a diverse community of families with the support and resourc

Volunteer Title  Junior Board Member   This is a volunteer position requiring 5 - 10 hours per month. We ask for a commitment of at least one year.   Organization  Founded in 1980, the Neighborhood Parents Network of Chicago, (NPN), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to connect a diverse community of families with the support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. NPN helps parents research schools, navigate devel

Job Title Marketing & Outreach Manager $22-24/hr, 20hrs/week   This is a part-time, hourly, position requiring 20 hours/week.   Organization Founded in 1980, the Neighborhood Parents Network of Chicago, (NPN),  is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to connect a diverse community of families with the support and resources designed to solve the challenges of parenting in Chicago. NPN helps parents research schools, navigate developmental

We are Neighborhood Parents Network of Chicago Neighborhood Parents Network started in 1980 as a volunteer-run organization. Today, NPN is managed by a full-time Executive Director, a team of part-time directors and managers, and a group of amazing volunteers. Amy Johnson Executive Director Amy joined NPN in 2006. After finding a long-lasting nanny share through NPN, she began volunteering by planning small social events for parents in her neighborhood. With a background in non-profit program m

NPN New Moms Groups Relaunching in September 2026! Connect with other new moms facing similar changes, challenges, and joys that you are experiencing as a new parent. 🙌 Free with your RSVP 👩‍🍼Limited to 8-10 moms 🕰️ Meet for 90 minutes the same day and time each week for 3 consecutive weeks 🤗 Facilitated by NPN staff and mom volunteers 👶 Babies expected and welcome 0-6 months group Meet at Bubbles Academy West Town, 1308 N. Elston Ave Thursdays from 1:00-2:30 PM September session begins Septem

Neighborhood Parents Network started in 1980 as a volunteer-run organization. Today, our four-person staff team and a group of amazing volunteers continue the work of supporting Chicago families. If you are passionate about helping parents research schools, navigate developmental differences, and get parent-to-parent advice, we hope you will join us! Openings (updated 3/23/26) Marketing & Outreach Manager - posted 3/23/26 NPN's Board of Directors - rolling Community Outreach Coordinator (vol

Thank you to our supporters.                        

Since NPN was founded in 1980, the Parent to Parent quarterly newsletter has been a fun way for parents to share their stories, lessons learned, and get new insights into how to survive parenting in Chicago.  Check out these great past issues to learn more about school searches, finding the right childcare, traveling with kids, developmental differences, the ups & downs of Chicago parenting, and so much more!   2021-2025 Archives: 2024 - Spring 2023 - Spring