Neighborhood Community Schools Strategy Aim To Ensure Civic Engagement

t has been almost seven months since we launched our Neighborhood Community Schools efforts at PS 171Q and IS 126Q. The last several months have been very busy for us internally as we have, hired two new Community School Directors to spearhead the coordination and implementation efforts of programs and services. We also, have been actively working to meet with Principals to establish our own Zone 126 Community Schools culture that is rooted in building community, and ensuring civic engagement.

Over the course of the last several years, Zone 126 has firmly established ourselves at Long Island City High School (LICHS) and have built a reputation centered around effectiveness. What we have been able to establish at LICHS has provided us with a solid foundation that enabled us to apply to the US Department of Education (USDOE) for the Full-Service Community Schools grant for PS 171Q and IS 126Q.While we have specific goals around ensuring students are Kindergarten ready, achieving academically, and are safe, healthy and supported by engaged parents, this is not enough in the eyes of Zone 126. Our vision has always been that we want to see every child graduating from high school prepared for college or the workforce, and entering the 21^st Century equipped with the skills needed to thrive. Yet, considering today’s political climate it does not seem enough, we must do more. As we celebrated our 8^th anniversary earlier this month, our Executive Team has been actively thinking about our work in a way that goes beyond the classroom, and into community. Simply speaking how do we ensure that students have an opportunity to be civically engaged?

The path to community and civic engagement will kick off in early May through a new collaboration that includes the Astoria Houses Resident Association, Global Kids (GK), and IS 126Q. Global Kids will spend seven weeks working intensely with two groups of students who attend IS 126Q and live within New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Astoria Houses. As the school year winds down, students will remain in the Global Kids program the summer with the intention of igniting a passion for community leadership and building civic engagement from school to community.

This is a first step for our organization to launch a collaborative school and community partnership that goes extends beyond the school bell. The most important thing is that we are working to ensure that our students feel they have a voice, agency, and feel that they matter and can make a difference. Over the next several months we will track the progress of our efforts and share with you our successes and challenges, as we ensure for the preparation of the next generation of civic-minded and engaged youth