Reimagining Schools: Serving Newcomers, Building Belonging, and Activating Community

Migration and demographic change present an opportunity to reimagine school systems. By prioritizing students’ identity development and community formation skills, we can create equitable environments where all students thrive.

Schools are more than just places of education; they also serve as essential community support pillars, offering meals, child care, and health resources. Though schools often act as community hubs in practice, the theories behind how many schools operate focus solely on academic outcomes. It is time to reimagine how schools might serve the broader population, how local organizations might facilitate education, and how we might activate community members as partners in life-long learning.

Part One

During this first of two webinars, we present a new vision for education beyond K-12, where schools serve as community hubs welcoming families and providing essential support.

Part Two

In the second part of this two-part series, we offer practical resources, tools, and models to help bring this vision to life. We also demonstrate the profound possibilities created when passionate people take action and highlight the powerful work of educators building belonging in their communities.