M A K I N G A N I M PA C T
Investment in Action:
Community Schools Principals Travis Collins and Jo Landreth on the power and promise of United Way’s Community Schools strategy. Since 2010, we’ve worked with both Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools to advance the educational success of our youth by wrapping community support around them. UWABC partners with seven area schools, funding on-site coordinators who make connections with community partners to provide services like healthcare and expanded learning opportunities. We asked two principals to share their thoughts about how the strategy is working and the challenges ahead.
Travis Collins, Principal at Erwin Middle School About his school: “We look significantly different from most other schools in Western North Carolina. Our diversity is our superpower—13 languages are spoken at our school. And it’s in a unique setting—just outside Asheville, but next-door.” Challenges facing students today: “Many of our students’ families have to work two or more jobs to make ends meet. Rent is significantly higher in Asheville compared to our rural neighbors. When gas prices are over $4, that creates economic havoc. Add high inflation, and folks are struggling financially.” How the Community Schools strategy can help bridge gaps: “One of the community partnerships we’ve found to be very successful—and we’re still working on—is with UMOJA Health, Wellness, and Justice Collective. Executive Director Michael Hayes is able to meet with students coming from trauma-filled places and help them transition from ‘survival brain’ to ‘learning brain.’ The door was opened through the relationships we have being a Community School.” The benefits of having a Community School Coordinator on-site: “As an example, our coordinator, Allison Hughes, was able to create a partnership with a local nonprofit called RiverLink, who work in improving waterways. Now we have 15 students who play in the creek examining our water with a scientist every Monday. Allison is very proactive in finding ways to engage our kids.” What gives him hope for the future: “Having been a principal in four previous schools, one thing I could not help noticing in my first few months at Erwin was the depth of resources that the United Way has been able to coordinate for our students and families. The partnership we have as part of the Community Schools network breathes life into our existing relationships and opens the door to new ones in support of our students and their families.”
“We have a student healthcare center on our campus. When I became a school administrator 20 years ago, I never even imagined that was a possibility.” -TRAVIS COLLINS 7
