Community Engagement by Lisa Stubenrauch https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b Post a current article or other media about community engagement based on your personal or professional experiences in education. Describe your experience and role i.e. teacher, parent...in relation to the chosen media. en-us 2019-04-09 01:22:47 UTC 2025-10-20 12:23:10 UTC hello@padlet.com What Does Community Power and Diversity Look Like In A Democratic Society? yt2567_1 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/350551008 After reading Oakes' chapter 11, and working with my group to organize our plans for creating a lively scholarly discussion on the readings and how best to complicate the issues that came from them, I was struck by something that is missing: The voices, beliefs, and experiences of parents of children who are disabled and/or in special education classes. Also what is missing are the school views and beliefs about these parents and their role and rights within schools. I then went to look for articles to fill this void and to thereby include these parents' voices, beliefs, and actions in our discussion.

The article below is an historical analysis that examines the experiences that John and Alice Dewey underwent as parents as they tirelessly sought to work with, then against the educational systems that revealed their bias against and intolerances of the Deweys' adopted son - Sabino. Sabino suffered from a physical disability and tuberculosis. Sabino was barred from many K-12 schools, which resulted in the Deweys advocating for their son's right to be educated and to be treated normally - often to no avail.

The article is a quick read; however, here are pages to drill down into on the areas that reveal what may have informed Dewey's evolved advocacy for the rights of women, African Americans, and disabled persons: pp. 7-9; 13-14; 17-22.

Audre Lorde (1979) posits that "the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house." The article reveals that when education systems and the rules that govern it and the curriculum are created for the people by members of society who do not support the equal rights of all people, then the people may be rendered powerless to realizing full transformation of those systems and curricula. ]]> 2019-04-10 20:37:17 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/350551008 Community Cultural Weath wsl2117 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351386020 I found the Yosso article very powerful in how it uses a model of community cultural wealth (p. 78) to demonstrate in a realistic manner what different cultures bring to a school discourse on community. The article takes us further on what we can do to recognise and act on the ways that racism and discrimination takes place, in how everyday acts help racism maintain its hold on culture (hooks). Lastly I have attached a link to a talk by Dr Bettina Love (from another class), which covers some aspects of achieving educational freedom (not just reform). It is a long talk but very interesting.]]> 2019-04-13 15:52:27 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351386020 Lebron James designed a school in his community. What do you think? jas184_2 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351483324 A friend sent me this Sunday NYT article about LeBron James's school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio and demanded to know what I thought of his model for schools. This story really isn't about James, a famous NBA basketball player, starting a school, but about the educators who have designed a community
that prioritizes love, caring communities and relationships over “achievement”. They call it the secret sauce, and it is surprising everyone that this attention to student and parents' needs are actually improving achievement in test scores, attendance and overall motivation to learn.
]]> 2019-04-14 16:46:29 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351483324 Impact of a teacher on both students and community dmo2128 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351522487 The Global Teacher Prize is an annual US $1 million award by the Varkey Foundation to a teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. 

Kenyan Mathematics and Physics teacher Peter Tabichi won the Global Teacher Prize 2019. Despite severe challenges, the teacher is credited with helping many of his students not only to continue schooling, but also take part in international science and engineering competitions and graduate to college. He has also dedicated his life to helping others giving 80% of his teaching salary to local community projects, including education, sustainable agriculture and peace-building.
I like the way the teacher has created a good relationship with the community and the students. it shows his love and caring but requires one to sacrifice a lot under such conditions.

]]> 2019-04-14 23:49:13 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351522487 RIP Nipsey Hu$$le nfn2104 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351542532 This week's topic is so fitting and timely to something that has been on my heart over the last couple of weeks. Grammy-nominated rapper, Nipsey Hussle, was shot and killed just a couple weeks ago in front of his clothing store in his hometown neighborhood in Los Angeles. This story has swept headlines in the last couple weeks and many media outlets have highlighted Nipsey's dedication to community engagement and empowerment. Please check out this article and watch the video embedded in it to learn more.

One of the MANY great things he did was partner with the organization Vector 90 to provide STEM professional development to young people of color. He also invested in a local elementary school to renovate basketball courts, playgrounds, and provide shoes for children in need. Nipsey used his successful career to give back to the community he grew up in and to teach others how they too can achieve success. Though he is no longer with us, I know his legacy will live on.]]> 2019-04-15 02:30:11 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351542532 Communities In Schools lks2140 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351626960 Communities In Schools is a program with a mission to "surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life."  When I think of community engagement, I think of stakeholders such as parents, partner agencies, faith partners, after school programs, etc.  This program is a partnership agency of sorts, but one that truly immerses itself in the school community and becomes another arm to wrap around students.   Communities in Schools works to support parents and families in navigating the complexities of school services and providing resources to students.  This program had a site coordinator at my previous school who did everything from taking students on STEM field trips to incentivizing school attendance to providing snacks or backpacks when students needed them.  When we think about community engagement, I think it is important to consider that there are many ways that this can look - sometimes, it is simply getting students the food and resources they need to make it through the day.]]> 2019-04-15 12:42:39 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351626960 Design for Change-Re-defining the term "Community Engagement" bmd2141 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351660540
When we usually hear of the word community engagement, we think about school administrators, teachers, and principals collaborating and engaging with parents and community members to bring about a positive change in students' academic levels or behavior. However, Design for Change enables children to take up an issue in their community and work creatively and collaboratively to solve it. The two examples below show us what is possible if we give ownership to our students and blur the lines of learning between the school and the community. In many ways, the examples below exemplify what community engagement can look like if the primary stakeholders and beneficiaries of school are engaged in it. These projects, along with modifying the role of the teacher and the school, empowers children to solve a problem that will indirectly impact classroom outcomes.

Example 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oD59dIZpik

Example 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OVl-TbvKhw
]]> 2019-04-15 14:11:16 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351660540 Community Music - Columbia University agp2132 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351823032 It seems like it is a trend that Columbia University supports the engagement of the communities in the locations of the campuses. Specifically,  the Music and Music Education Department offers programs with affordable tuitions and scholarships for students who cannot afford.  More importantly, the music is taught through the suggestions of the students.   The students come home feeling proud to present the music of their communities back to their communities.  

As a teacher involved with this program, I have learned so much more about the students and their parents through asking what are their music at home as compared to teaching them from a pre-set curriculum.  Also, the practice time increases when they play the music they like.  ]]> 2019-04-15 22:25:02 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351823032 ABC School yt2567_1 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351866521 This infographic represents work done by the team at Table 1 who wanted to first invite parents of special ed students, as well as all parents to the school for coffee, as a start to engagement. Every Monday and Wednesday is such a nice start!

]]> 2019-04-16 03:41:32 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351866521 Parent Planned Cultural Immersion Trip yt2567_1 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351866785 This infographic represents work done by the team at Table 2, who wish to have experiential trips with parents. What a great way for parents to share their cultural experiences, but also for parents to experience things together - this creates culture as well!]]> 2019-04-16 03:43:31 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351866785 Hack A Community Engagement Solution...or Another Type of Solution yt2567_1 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351867847 Here are simple steps you can utilize within your formal/informal groups in your school or other academic spaces. Where there is a problem, there is a solution - just hack one!]]> 2019-04-16 03:50:46 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351867847 Examine Your Privilege yt2567_1 https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351868263 This thought provoking infographic gives us pause to examine our own actions and how they land in the space. This can be applied to most every interaction we have in our daily lives. Great food for thought and a great practice to utilize when engaging with others.]]> 2019-04-16 03:53:12 UTC https://padlet.com/lms23001/vpdd6ge8511b/wish/351868263