At Distinctive Schools, we believe that a critical component of supporting the whole child and achieving our mission of academic excellence is deep community involvement. Our schools serve as Community Hubs—central resources that thrive through collaboration—and the recent Community Partner Breakfasts at CICS Bucktown and CICS West Belden demonstrate the vital partnerships essential for our students and families.
The CICS Bucktown team recently hosted a wonderful Community Partners Breakfast that brought together a dozen leaders from various community organizations and ministries. Our entire Bucktown team planned the event, warmly welcomed our guests, and provided an informative presentation that offered a deeper look into the Bucktown community and Distinctive Schools—providing a powerful testament to the power of partnership!
In November, the CICS West Belden campus held its annual Early Education & Community Leader Breakfast, inviting 16 community partners into the room. These community partners are a critical component of our community hub model, helping us deliver on the promise of holistic student support. The event was impactful, featuring guests like the school’s Bilingual Advisory Council (BAC) and the Parent-Teacher League (PTL) alongside active outside organizations. The opportunity to share the great things happening at CICS West Belden with key partners fostered great networking and ensured everyone understood the school's mission.
Our partners not only understood the mission but also enjoyed networking and meeting each other, reinforcing the collaborative spirit essential to supporting our students. These breakfasts are invaluable opportunities to celebrate our shared vision and strengthen the community hub support systems that help every Distinctive Schools student thrive.
Thank you to all the organizations who came out and to everyone who helped plan and execute these events, especially Community School Coordinators Sophia Camacho and Jesus Meraz!
Are you interested in partnering with our schools or know an organization you think would be a great fit? Please reach out to Karin Breo, Director of Partnerships & Community Hubs!