Community Schools Coordinators network - September 2018
__A message from your co-chair Arturo Magana_ Community School Coordinator_ Parmelee Avenue Elementary School_ Los Angeles_ CA

Welcome back Coordinators! We hope that the summer was refreshing and energizing for the new school year. Never forget that our stakeholders look at us for inspiration and support! Speaking of which, September 24th through the 28th is Coordinators Appreciation Week! We encourage you high-five to a fellow coordinator you appreciate! We would also like to thank everyone that attended the 3-part Webinar Series on the Forum Hot Topics. You can still register for part 3 on chronic absence, and keep a look out for more webinars in the future!
Coordinator Spotlight_ Gwendolyn Unoko_ Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary_Middle School. Baltimore_ MD

Gwendolyn Unoko's advice of  "get to know your school and families first" has ignited countless success stories. Read about how Gwendolyn's initiatives won The Regional Diversity Inclusion Award and the opportunity for her students to attend the US Open in this month's   Coordinator's Spotlight .
Opportunities _ Resources

Register for the National Center for Community Schools Conference to grow your understanding of community schools, October 17-19 in New York City.
Learn about the different ways to make your ELL students' transition this year as smooth as possible.
Join the Afterschool Alliance for their Lights on Afterschool celebration on October 25th to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students. 

CALL TO ACTION: Tell Your Senators to Fight the
Opioid Epidemic through Community Schools

On August 22, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Full-Service Community Schools in Distressed Communities Act of 2018 (S. 3362).  This bill would invest $45 million to support communities to come together to create a plan to address the opioid crisis and other forms of substance abuse, and to implement full-service community schools as an effective strategy to prevent and address substance abuse among students and/or family members.

We need YOUR help! Call your Senators this month at 202-224-3121 and ask them to co-sponsor this bill to help children and families struggling with this crisis.  Thank you in advance for your advocacy!

Mark your calendars

_the civil rights bus tour has impacted me both professional and personally. We have an obligation to continue to tell the stories as their modern day significance is immense._ - Jen Beutel_ Platte County R-3 School District_ January 2018
Sincerely_ your co-chairs_ Liz Thacker and Arturo Magana
Logos_ Coalition for community schools and Institute for Educational Leadership