NORCROSS — A class of more than 30 residents from Gwinnett and Cobb counties graduated Friday from the Parent Leadership Institute, a series of six workshops designed to train and support emerging parent leaders.

Developed by the Parent Services Project, the Parent Leadership Institute helps parents build the skills and capacity to take greater leadership roles in the systems serving their children, including early learning programs and school settings.

The institute is based on local strengths, needs and interests, according to a news release. Between sessions, parents are given homework to work on their individual and community goals. As a result of their training, parents take positive steps to improve their own lives and the lives of their children and engage in community projects and actions to shape policies and change systems.

“These parents were asked to collaborate on a project that was important to them. Through this project parents have come together and created a plan for their community and set priorities on how to accomplish the task,” said Laura Miller, project manager for the Early Learning Community Based Partnership. “Such an activity helps the parents to become decision makers, evokes leadership, confidence and empowers them to become advocates for themselves, their families, children and communities.”

One group of parents, who are residents of Norcross Mobile Home Park, in conjunction with their homeowners’ association, decided to beautify their homes through a painting and gardening project.

The parents were responsible for soliciting funding and approached Home Depot, Lowes and Wal-Mart for help, the news release states. The group received a small United Way grant to paint several homes.

The families also addressed safety and other issues in their community.

With funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Smart Start Georgia — the early learning initiative of United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta — partnered with Parent Services Project to pilot the Parent Leadership Institute curriculum with families enrolled in the Early Learning Community Based Partnership initiative.

The Early Learning Community Based Partnership addresses early learning needs of young children in targeted neighborhoods through home visits using the parents as teachers model, parent engagement, school transition for children, and advocacy for policy and systems change.