Celebrate Community Efforts Along the Journey
If a community values its children it must cherish their parents.
– John Bowlby
INTRO
Since the end result may not be realized for some time, it’s especially important to celebrate efforts—along with successes— throughout transformational journeys. And when it comes to family and community engagement initiatives, be sure to recognize and highlight everyone involved. When effort is directly recognized for making a positive impact toward larger goals, it can help motivate people by showing progress is being made and that the “little things” really matter when it comes to achieving loftier goals; it also helps solidify and empower our sense of community and unity.
During a Crowdsource on March 16, 2023, Carlos Hernandez (Director of Community Schools, Family and Community Engagement at Anaheim Union School District) and Araceli Huerta (Community School Coordinator at Sycamore Junior High School) shared strategies for effectively engaging parents and family members. Topics of discussion included both site-level strategies to include families in your school community and district-level approaches to building systems that center family perspectives when making decisions.
OBJECTIVES
- Evaluate your school’s current celebratory practices
ACTIVITY
Watch the video about how the AUHSD celebrates its members and efforts throughout their journey for strengthening family and community engagement.
Then, reflect on your school’s current celebratory practices when it comes to larger/long-term initiatives as well as how you recognize students, families, and community members for their efforts, support, and success along the way.
REFLECTION
- Evaluate your school’s current celebratory practices:
- Who is currently celebrated? Who/which groups still need to be?
- What is being celebrated? Are only grand successes highlighted or are efforts and growth also recognized?
- How are people and efforts celebrated? How can you make it more significant?
- Have other means of recognition/celebration been explored? Consider media outlets, outside organizations/conferences, etc.
TIPS
- Be sure to take into account cultural, socioeconomic, etc. factors when planning community celebrations—involve families and the community in the planning process
- Remember that the focus is ultimately on how efforts are helping students thrive
Responses