You've Just Got to Believe

Michelle Daniels has long believed she can make a positive impact in the world. With that mindset, she is always on the lookout for opportunities to make a difference. Back in 2012 when the Chicago Parent Program (CPP) first came to Baltimore City Schools, she was a volunteer chair on the Baltimore City Parent & Community Advisory Board, helping the school board to develop family-friendly policies for the district.  For most people, that would be enough. But not Michelle. She immediately saw an opportunity with CPP to empower parents to nurture their children and build stronger families. As such, she was among the inaugural people to be trained as a CPP leader. “Let’s face it, parenting isn’t easy,” says Michelle. “There’s no rule book. Parents are raising their children organically, often following the model on how they were raised.”

After 10 years of working with parents through CPP, Michelle sees the difference the program can make. “CPP adds new skills to parents’ tool belt and builds their confidence. Through a combination of trust, mutual support, honesty, and collective wisdom, I’ve seen CPP become the foundation for a parent's own personal growth,” explains Michelle. “That growth is passed on to their children.” Michelle has been trained in several parent/family programs. When asked what makes CPP stand out, Michelle is quick to point out that CPP places the parents at the program’s center rather than the trainer. One of the biggest differences Michelle sees with CPP parents is their growth in confidence. Michelle notes that parents with a strong sense of self-confidence have a better ability to handle the challenges of child-rearing and setting limits, often by just trusting in their own abilities and judgment.

Michelle’s involvement in CPP led her to open her own business, Imara Partnership. Imara is a consulting firm committed to disrupting the cycle of trauma that inhibits one’s capacity to create familial bonds and make positive connections in the community. “We work with families in a very holistic way,” explains Michelle. Based on her extensive CPP experience, Michelle and her partners developed P.I.L.O.T. (Parents Involved Learning to Overcome Trauma), an eight-week program developed to assist parents in overcoming childhood trauma that threaten parent/child attachment. 

Michelle has two children and credits, in part, CPP with helping her to raise her own kids. Her son was in middle school when she first became involved in CPP. Now, with special training under his belt, he works with children with autism. Her daughter is an honor student with a bright future ahead. “Let’s face it, ten years facilitating CPP and over 20 years working with families is a long time,” concludes Michelle.  “I wouldn’t do something this long if I didn’t believe in it fully.”