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Inspiring our next generation of leaders, innovators and changemakers

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An urgent need for engagement and connection

In 5th grade 74% of students are actively engaged in school.

By 12th grade student engagement drops to 34%.

Only 26% of students believe adults in their community value them.

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Bridging the the gap between school and the community.

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What students know

Who

students know

Opportunity

Source: Clayton Christensen Institute

Who you know shapes your opportunities in life as much and if not more as what you know. Traditional education often focuses heavily on the "what.”

CommunityShare works to bridge the gap between the WHO and WHAT by connecting students with the individuals in our community.

Imagine the difference between reading about robotics and working with an engineer to build a robot! Between reading about history and hearing from someone who lived through it. And from reading a book to meeting the author who not only shares the story but their culture, experience, inspiration, and process.

This is the power of CommunityShare. We go beyond the pages of a book by connecting students with inspiring adults who bring their real-world experiences and knowledge into education. Our goal is to streeeeeetch the circle of who students know wider so they can connect with community professionals and caring adults and experience learning in a new and transformative way. By fostering strong connections, we're setting students up for success in the long run. Research shows these connections have a positive impact on their health, academic performance, future career options, and overall economic well-being.

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CommunityShare: “Human Library”

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A world of project possibilities…

Share life stories of success and failure

Hands on activities

Mentoring students in the classroom

Judge a student competition

Host a field trip

Assist students with a class project

Host an internship

Consult with a teacher to help them develop expertise and ideas around a topic

CommunityShare reaches students from preschool through 12th grade and the possibilities for learning experiences with CommunityShare are endless!

From hands-on class projects, to guest speaking, to hosting internships - you can share your experiences and ideas with students and educators in our community.

You don’t have to be an expert - just a caring and curious human! We can help you find the elements of your career, hobby, or life experience that can translate to powerful learning experiences for students. All kinds of skills, wisdom and life experience are needed - from sharing the joys and challenges of your career, to your experience being the first in your family to go to college, or your experience traveling the world!

Imagine elementary students collaborating with a local artist to design a community mural, or high school history students interviewing veterans about their experiences. These are just a couple examples of the many ways CommunityShare connects students with real-world learning opportunities.

Presenter Notes:

Adapt the examples you talk about to your audience (i.e. if they are a business group, include examples of entrepreneurs helping students with a marketing project)
Focus on the idea that community partners can bring incredible experiences and ideas to share with kids (even if they don't feel like an expert)!
Community partners’ careers can be more interesting than you'd think - we can help you find elements that connect with kids.

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Who are community partners?

People like you!

Local businesses
Parents, grandparents, caregivers
Nonprofits / Social Service Agencies
Government / City or County staff
School alumni
Individual professionals
Faculty / Researchers / Grad students
Retirees

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Impact in our community

There's this amazing story from our community that highlights the impact of CommunityShare for me. A local [educator/School] was working on a project about [project topic in simple terms] with their students. They were looking for a way to bring the learning to life, so they connected with a [community partner - i.e. researcher, dancer, master gardener, business, scientist, entrepreneur] through our platform. Together, they developed a [project description - e.g., field trip to a local nature preserve] that allowed students to [specific Impact on students - e.g., see firsthand the effects of climate change on their local environment]. The students were so engaged and excited, and they even came up with some creative ideas for [positive outcome that highlights learning and contribution - e.g., reducing waste in their school].

Stories like this are what motivate me to keep working with CommunityShare. It's incredible to see how these connections can spark curiosity, inspire students, and, equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the future.

Presenter’s notes:

Insert a couple of images of projects happening in your community.

Share an example of a project in your community that you’re excited about! Your passion with resonate with the audience. If there’s an example that is connected to your audience, share it.

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We are looking for people to share their whole selves - what can you share? It could be your current job or perhaps it is life experience! Think about the unique skills and experiences you bring to the table. Are you an artist? A passionate gardener? A fluent speaker of another language? The possibilities are endless! Students are eager to learn from people from all walks of life, and your background could be the perfect spark to ignite their curiosity.

Presenter Notes:

Tailor the questions you ask to your audience - ask questions they might answer yes to. Here are examples of questions you could ask:

Do you have experience in a job or industry students might be curious about?
Do you have an artistic or athletic talent you could share?
Do you have historical or cultural knowledge about your neighborhood?
Do you speak multiple languages? Have you served as an elected official or in the military?
Have you traveled to places students might be learning about?
Would the challenges you’ve navigated in life help a child do the same?

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CommunityShare Online Platform: Sign up now!

www.communityshare.org

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Create your partner profile

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From profile

to project

The process for connecting and sharing with educators and students

The process of volunteering with CommunityShare is simple and rewarding. Here's a quick overview:

First, you create a profile. Second, our platform automatically connects you with educators looking for your experience. You’ll receive requests from educators for specific projects. Check back into the platform regularly to respond to those requests.
Step 3 is planning with educators: Once you’ve agreed to a request, you can collaborate with the educator to develop a learning experience that aligns with their curriculum and your expertise.
Step 4 is engaging in the learning experience: This is the really fun part! You get to visit a classroom or organization, connect with students, and share your knowledge and passion! This can be a one-time experience or multiple engagements over time depending on the project.
Finally, after the project, take a moment to reflect on your experience and share your story on our platform to inspire others.

Presenter Notes:

Highlight key process steps and talk about what you’ll do together during this session or what you’re asking participants to commit to doing within the next X days or weeks. For example, if there’s time, it’s a great opportunity to ask community partners to sign up with you on that day during your presentation.