Over the past year, CommunityWorks has begun supporting community building work in the Azalea Park neighborhood of Orange County, FL. Our local team has been building relationships and developing partnerships across the neighborhood. One partner, Colonial High School, is leading the charge in building a connected community.
This year, as teachers and administrators were gearing up for back to school, the school launched an innovative approach to connecting with the community.
Colonial High’s new Community Schools Senior Manager, Gloria Solis, planned a Neighborhood Tour for new administrators and teachers. The staff drove through the neighborhood and visited local parks and neighborhood centers where the students hang out. At the end, they even got a chance to grab a sweet treat at a local ice cream shop!
Along for the ride, the neighborhood association was invited to join in and share the history of the neighborhood and important context for staff and teachers. This partnership is just one example of how schools and communities can work together for all families to flourish.