Just a few weeks ago, the staff at Mann Middle School walked into a barn party thrown for them. Game tables. Food. Laughter. Partners from across the city participating to say thank you to this team.
That night didn’t happen by accident. It started at a CAFE — a principal naming what their staff needed, partners listening, and a plan coming together. Last spotlight I mentioned this celebration was in the works. Here’s what it looked like when the village showed up.
[Insert Mann Middle School celebration photos — sponsors visible]
This is the kind of growth we are excited about. Churches, businesses, non-profits and neighbors rallying around a local school and being clear about where they can plug in with their skills, resources, and presence.
Which is why we’re already working on what’s next.
We have solidified our start-of-the-new-school-year training and CAFE schedule with Colorado Springs School District 11, and with School District 49.
- D11: August principal training days (including a new Partner Fair), with fall CAFEs in September and October.
- D49: CAFE prep training in June with 14 principals, and CAFEs in September.
We’re hoping ~50 schools will be engaged in village building by year’s end. Spectacular — and a bit of a challenge that we’d like to invite you into. A healthy village is 10+ partners per school (faith, business, civic, non-profit, neighbors). That’s ~500 partners we’re gathering alongside each district, individual schools, and COSILoveYou.
One piece we’re especially excited about: a new Partner Fair during the August training days in D11. For principals, it’s a chance to expand awareness of organizations working across our city. For partners with capacity beyond one school, it’s the introduction that opens doors to exposure to more schools.
What if every school in Colorado Springs had a night like Mann Middle School’s? What if we could multiply the reach of the partners who already have capacity — and make sure no principal is guessing about what resources exist in our city?
That’s the work of this summer. More of the right relationships, placed in the right schools — building connections, compassion, and capacity.
Three ways to step in:
- Join a village. Come alongside a neighborhood school with your skills, resources, and presence.
- Who do you need to invite to be a part of this work? Perhaps you know the next perfect partner for a local school.
- Be part of the community Partner Fair — August 25 and 26. For organizations that can serve multiple schools.
Have questions or want to get connected? Reach out anytime.
Every school needs a village. This summer, we’re in building mode.