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.