University-Assisted Community Schools

Team profile by Alec Greenwald, Amy Anderson, Jamie Eaton, Yolanda Dunston, Xavier Cason, Mirlesna Azor-Sterlin, Amaya Jackson and Michelle Qiou

The Durham University-Assisted Community Schools Research Collective is a grassroots effort to support Durham Public Schools in addressing the challenges surrounding equitable school experiences and outcomes. The group envisions community schools as bringing together academics, health and social services, youth development and community engagement under one roof. Duke and North Carolina Central — two local universities — are central to this endeavor as part of the university-assisted community schools strategy.

Our research has significant local and national implications. Full-service community schools are evidence-based models that address the problems of racism and poverty that often fall to public schools. Together, through our research experience, Duke and North Carolina Central University have the capacity to build resources, strategies and political will for the expansion and sustainability of community schools here in Durham and across the state.

Our research methodologies are rooted in the practices of community school practitioners around the country and are currently consolidated around three major questions:

• How do local universities best prepare undergraduate students to enter Durham Public School (DPS) classrooms with a critical lens for race, class, and Durham’s history?
• How do we build a robust online dashboard that prepares undergraduate students, DPS teachers, and DPS parents to understand their neighborhoods through an asset-based perspective?
• Thinking about the 4 pillars of community schools (integrated student supports, expanded and enriched learning time, active family and community engagement, collaborative leadership and practices), how are universities uniquely positioned to meet the needs of community members inside and outside public school buildings?

Strengthening Partnerships Between Durham Public Schools and Local Universities

Poster by Alec Greenwald, Amy Anderson, Mirlesna Azor-Sterlin, Xavier Cason, Yolanda Dunston, Jamie Eaton, Brianna Spruill, Ashanti Sutton, Drew Greene, Emily McReynolds, Ifidon Ikharo, Kaylin Hernandez, Kennedy Lightfoot, Lauren Relaford, Lucy Colangelo, Marcus Roberts, Melanie Moseley, Rheyann Kirby, Staci Grimes, Michelle Qiou, Amaya Jackson, Alvaro Fernandez Da Ponte, Talia Hayes, Jasmine Benner, Fatoumata Bald and Hannah Galde