Springfield Urban League Inc. ’s Post

The Venn diagram of town relationships One beautiful day in 2008: Alex, Anhad, Ben, Rod, and Kyuho walked into Fiske Kindergarten. Soon followed by Alex, Varun, friends and many of their younger siblings.  So why am I telling this story? The children are now in college, the boys readying to graduate. Because the story is about the parents. Over the 13 years of a Lexington Public School education they have become friends, cared for each others’ children, led school fundraisers or teacher breakfasts, cheered on each other, run half marathons, and had many meals together. So what does a public school system do? In Lexington it does a lot more than just graduate its students. It provides the framework for relationships that grow into roots which anchor a community. We are repositories of town history as experienced by ordinary residents. Our relationships are the launching pad for the children. Remember The Great Redistricting Debate of 2018? Some of our elementary students were transferred from their original school to another. At that time our elementary schools were overcrowded. A new Hastings School had been built. It was a very public and painful process. Parents, grandparents and caregivers spoke about how redistricting would be unfortunate. Stronger language was used too. I fully empathized with the parent community as these bonds of friendship were tight, not only amongst the children, but even more importantly amongst the adults. (I heard the same yearning from every corner of Lexington, so was reassured. Our schools were doing something right!) Luckily the moves were completed in time for the greater space needs in 2020. If Lexington could be a Venn diagram, parents of Alex, Alex, Anhad, Ben, Kyuho, Rod, Varun and friends form one small circle amongst many similar overlapping circles. Lets try to include our Boston families too, until the Venn diagram includes all ages, abilities, genders, races and religions. Enjoy the time with family and friends in peace and contentment. Happy holidays! Best Deepika Sawhney (Vice Chair of School Committee till March 2025, Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member) Resources 'We all Belong' by sung by Lexington High School Rock Paper Scissors  https://lnkd.in/esuEGPFU

In a recent edition of Exchange Every Day dedicated to embracing families, communities, and culture, Monica Wells, our family and community program administrator, shared her deep connection to families and communities and how it positively impacts children's success. "Strong, authentic relationships between our families, students, and educators are key. We must speak life into our students, cheer them on, teach them the skills, and provide the tools they need to be prepared for the future. We must show examples of the power, importance, and necessity of community." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gc7ur8uu

Over the past decade, the Georgetown Public Policy Challenge has received a wide range of innovative solutions to local policy issues — from bridging the digital divide for at-risk students to assisting young parents and their children experiencing homelessness. “The students go out into the community, taking the human-centered design approach to establishing these proposals and seeing how they can help the folks they’re working with,” said McCourt School Director of Student Engagement Jaclyn Clevenger, who has supported hundreds of students and awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships as founder of the Challenge. Learn more about the annual graduate student competition here: https://lnkd.in/dqXpX4CC

Continuing the celebration of our 10th anniversary, this #ThrowbackThursday features our report published in 2016 in partnership with the @CAP. This report provides a brief overview of special education policies and outcomes and explores the potential of district and charter collaboration. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/dPCi9Rbs! #CLETakes10

What a great story about a young man with a goal and the motivation to accomplish great things! Check out his story on the latest episode of the Reading Revolution! #literacyforall #literacymatters #inchystory

The Countdown is On! Just Weeks Away! Join our two-part workshop for residential and student life leaders at the TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools) Pre-Con! Some of the most compelling workshops and gatherings happen before the Conference begins on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024! Trust-Based Relationships and Data-Driven Insights for Student Care: A Two-Part Workshop for Residential and Student Life Leaders 9am–12pm Part I: All Within Reach: Practical Insights for ResLife and Student Care Brian Murray, Director, REACH Dive into the most useful residential life modules within the Reach platform and gain practical insights for implementation and optimization from industry experts and fellow Reach users. Existing clients will deepen their understanding of Reach modules and expand their networks. Potential clients can experience Reach’s capabilities firsthand to understand how it supports school life. 1pm–4pm Part II: Foundations of Trust-Based Relationships in Boarding Schools Brooklyn Raney, Ed.D. Raney, Founder, One Trusted Adult We know that boarding school students who experience connection, care, and trusted relationships have more positive academic and development outcomes, but it can be challenging to determine the limits of appropriate connection, care, and trust. Register Today! #TABS #PreConference #TABSConference #StudentLife #DormLife #OneTrustedAdult #WithinReach

"My ultimate goal is for all of our students to leave Archbishop Carroll High School with the same love and appreciation for this community that I and many others share, embrace their opportunities to give back, and bless the lives of others." Erik Ramsey '93 is serving our community as our first ever Director of Student Development. Learn more about Erik in the Voices Ringing blog (link in comments)!

Revolutionizing Reentry: The Elm City Reentry Pilot Today, 4-CT launched the third cohort of the Elm City Reentry Pilot, welcoming twenty more individuals into a program that redefines what reentry support can and should be. For the next 12 months, each participant will receive $500/month, providing the stability, autonomy, and dignity to reclaim their lives after incarceration. This isn’t just financial aid—it’s an act of radical trust. It’s a challenge to the broken systems that punish instead of restore. And it’s a declaration that we believe in the power of people to rebuild their own lives when given the resources to do so. As someone who once walked this path, I know the profound impact of this program. Today, as the Community Engagement and Advocacy Fellow, I am humbled to support its expansion and to stand alongside individuals who refuse to let their past define their future. I’m deeply grateful to Raquel Ferguson for her tireless dedication and to our twenty new participants, who are not just beneficiaries—they are the revolutionaries leading the way. The Elm City Reentry Pilot proves that change is possible when we invest directly in people and their potential. Together, we’re not just helping individuals; we’re dismantling inequities and rebuilding communities from the ground up. Let’s keep fighting, keep building, and keep believing in a future where everyone has a chance to thrive

I spy with my little eye something familiar in this picture- front and center! I love seeing my book, Support and Retain Educators of Color, used in the context of pushing forward institutional change. I wrote this book not as a cute intellectual exercise but a how-to guide for education and organizational leaders to cultivate workplaces that affirm and retain educators of color. This Friday, I will be presenting insights from my book surrounding affinity group implementation at Center for Black Educator Development Black Men in Education Convening. See you there? #education #equity #BlackMenInEducationConvening #BMEC2024 #Blackteachersmatter

October Update from LPI: Progressing towards universal prekindergarten in California, and new resources on instructionally relevant assessment systems, New Mexico community schools, and redesigning high school. https://lnkd.in/gW4ZTWTt