Community Schools@100% Innovation 10 – Developing the City Dept of Community Schools
Community Schools@100%: Innovation 10
Developing the City Dept of Community Schools
The projects presented in the ten innovations areas are all designed to address barriers to vital services. Action teams should review all projects and prioritize those that have the best chance of addressing the barriers identified in the 100% New Mexico countywide survey. Your collaborative and result-focused local work is nothing less than heroic.
Here’s a quick overview of what you will find below.
Project Quick Links
Project: Community Schools.10.1
Project 1: The “county/city partnership that funds the department of community schools” project
Elevator pitch: We see community schools as a partnership between schools, city government, county government and higher education. When we scan the website for city hall, we should be able to see right next to the Departments of Police, Fire and Parks, the Department of Community Schools — “a partnership between schools and local government.” Why not? Now we know that in some cities like NYC, it is the mayor that controls the schools — including community schools. In other localities it might be the county or the school district. Our bottom line? We want this model institutionalized.
It’s a vital resource we need in order to ensure the safety and success of our students, who are future workers and taxpayers. We can live without well-groomed parks, but lacking vital resources for student health and success is not an option. (And the truth is, we can have both parks and community schools.)
Our partners: mayors, city councilors, school boards, county commissioners and advocates for student health, higher education leadership in programs of education, social work, behavioral health, health care and socially-engaged business leaders.
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Project: Community Schools.10.2
Project 2: The “convene your fellow community school advocates and enhance your skills in public speaking, committee briefing, and how to get to a school board members or lawmaker” project
This project is a crash course that you develop with local experts about how to contact local and state leaders, give an elevator pitch on your projects, and the protocol for committee hearings that can lead to funding.
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Send this project to your action team and advocates.
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Post and discuss in the 100% New Mexico group.
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Explore the Lab for project support and ideas.
Project: Community Schools.10.3
Project 3: The “know your stuff before you meet the mayor, county commissioner or school superintendent” project
Innovation #10, in some ways, is putting it all together. By this we mean that, by the time your action team becomes familiar with all ten innovation areas and their projects, you will be prepared to meet with elected officials and stakeholders to discuss ways your school district, city and county can strengthen its support of community schools in their many enriching forms.
NEXT STEPS
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Send this project to your action team and advocates.
Share
Post and discuss in the 100% New Mexico group.
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Explore the Lab for project support and ideas.
Project: Community Schools.10.4
Project 4: The “create a bold vision and strategic plan” project
It’s time to create a detailed plan for this new (or improved) local Department of Community Schools within the school district (or some nonprofit?). As with previous projects, you will have learned its strengths and weaknesses, potential funding sources, and who the players are. You’ll be in a strong position to document what’s great, and needs to be kept as-is or expanded, and what needs to change.
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Send this project to your action team and advocates.
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Post and discuss in the 100% New Mexico group.
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Explore the Lab for project support and ideas.
Project: Community Schools.10.5
Project 5: The “become inspired by the Harlem Children’s Zone” project
To address generational poverty, the Harlem Children’s Zone believed a partnership between the schools and community was essential for success. Beginning in 1990, the initial focus was on impacting just one city block and growing from there; addressing not just a few, but all problems impacting the families in this area. The model has been so successful, it has received national attention and schools interested in replicating its success can apply for federal dollars to do so.
Harlem Children’s Zone Model: https://aae.how/74
NEXT STEPS
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Send this project to your action team and advocates.
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Post and discuss in the 100% New Mexico group.
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Explore the Lab for project support and ideas.
Project: Community Schools.10.6
Project 6: “assess what Buffalo, NY has offered to families” project
The goal of community schools in NY is to 1) implement strong educational programs which reduce learning gaps, enrich and expand the curriculum and strengthen parent and community engagement in the school; 2) coordinate with Say Yes Buffalo and other local resources to offer medical, dental, health and wellness services at the school; 3) build partnerships with local organizations to implement high quality extended day and year programs of excellence to the entire community.
Say Yes Buffalo, NY: https://aae.how/75
NEXT STEPS
Share
Send this project to your action team and advocates.
Share
Post and discuss in the 100% New Mexico group.
Visit
Explore the Lab for project support and ideas.
