Rep. Manley Invites Community to Join Grandparents Legislative Advisory Committee

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is inviting community members to join the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Legislative Advisory Committee (GrandLAC), a collective of local grandparents that will focus on the issues many grandparents face in traditional and nontraditional roles. The next meeting will be held Monday, Feb. 6 at noon at Joliet Junior College Romeoville 1125 W Romeoville Road in Romeoville, and via Zoom.

“Families come in many shapes and sizes, and oftentimes grandparents step up to the plate to raise and support their children and grandchildren,” Manley said. “I look forward to listening to the experiences of the grandparents in our community and collaborating with them to create meaningful legislation that addresses their specific needs.”

According to the Illinois Department on Aging, there are more than 200,000 children living in a grandparent-headed home and more than 100,000 grandparents caring for their grandchildren in Illinois. The GrandLAC will provide grandparents with the opportunity to share their thoughts, become involved in the legislative process and brainstorm policy solutions to the issues they face. Committee work in Manley’s other Legislative Advisory Committees has been responsible for numerous legislative ideas, bills and some laws.

“The opinions and experiences of my constituents inform my legislative agenda so I can best represent our community in Springfield,” said Manley. “I encourage the grandparents in our community to join us for this new legislative committee, share their unique viewpoints and make their voices heard.”

To RSVP for the next meeting, please contact Manley’s district office at info.repmanley@gmail.com or call 815-725-2741. Those who wish to participate via Zoom will receive the link after sending their RSVP.