NAVIGATING SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Maneuvering through spaces to enact change

CLEARLY DEFINING ROLES

Conversations early on to stimulate collaboration across multiple spaces

If (our organization) would have had a prior meeting to discuss roles, it could have provided clarity on roles and responsibilities, also allowing for alignment (across positions of support) ~Celina

RECOGNIZING GREY AREAS

Engaging with parents is a complex task, so expectations should be set accordingly.
Just because services are available does not mean parents will immediately flood in to access them.
Supporting parent agency is key to relationship building and navigating through community spaces.

There is a lot of grey where families may not be ready. How can I assure that families feel helped so that they make the decision get involved? ~ Celina

NAVIGATION USING TECHNOLOGY

You have to be on a lot of different platforms because people like to engage different ways. We try to keep an active discussion. I think that is kind of the future of how people connect. ~ Miranda

Twitter

Storify

Survey Monkey

WeChat

CRITICAL FRIENDSHIPS

Simultaneously cultivate relationships among stake and power holders while maintaining expectations of accountability.

Within the context of resisting divisive education policy, community organizers are able to utilize resistance as a form of capital to advocate for their communities while sustaining partnerships with those in positions of power that are able to implement the change.

MEET THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT IS

Recognizing the complexity of parent’s lives opens the lines of communication.

The best way to reach people… is (not) holding some meeting somewhere and asking people to come because that's adding something new to their routine or their life,” but to meet them where they are. ~ Miranda

The critical part comes in when there are decisions made that we don't think are in the interest of parents or we think there is something that hasn't been considered by the district… We are usually respectful in the way we do it but also persistent. ~ Miranda