The Community School Summer Connection

Bekah Carmichael, Manager of People & Culture
Sherrelle Showell, People & Culture Assistant

Here at Family League, we often say that every Community School is the hub of the community in which it’s located. We are the People & Culture team here, handling recruitment and hiring functions, and we recently completed a project that proves this point!

We interviewed and offered summer positions to more than 30 adult supervisors who will receive training that prepares them, in turn, to train and inspire approximately 450 14- and 15-year-olds in Baltimore. Beginning in late June, these teens will spend five weeks immersed in the Baltimore Summer Skill-Builders Program–an experience that combines rigorous, curriculum-based core life skills training with workforce preparation and both school- and community-based service learning projects. (This is a special initiative of the Baltimore City YouthWorks summer jobs program, sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development in collaboration with Family League, the International Youth Foundation, and Baltimore City Public Schools.)

Who are these supervisors? They’re parents, teachers, para-professionals, and community members—and every one of them is connected to a Baltimore City Community School! During our recruitment process, the supervisor candidates told us how excited they are to work with students outside of the school year. They want to be sure these youth feel supported and connected to adults and positive activities over the summer. And they’re eager to watch them gain confidence as they plan and carry out community improvement projects.

This is a perfect example of the Community School philosophy in action: connecting adults and students with access to opportunity through the neighborhood school they all know well. And the program really comes full circle, as roughly 20 Community Schools serve as host sites for all participating students. Yes, our Community Schools are truly neighborhood hubs!

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