Eli Whitney

The Eli Whitney/Enlace Community School serves as a model for other community schools in the neighborhood. Because of the strong presence and leadership of a community-based organization, the community school serves as an umbrella for other partners and additional resources brought to the school.

Eli Whitney/Enlace Community School does not only bring resources and programs to the community, but serves as a vehicle to promote and increase authentic parental involvement, youth and leadership development. As a result, parents not only serve as members of the Oversight Committee (the governance body for community schools), but also volunteer their hours in the morning and afternoon, run for Local School Council elections, become members of other initiatives such as the Healthy Schools Campaign, Grow Your Own IL, learn about college opportunities for their children, etc. Our youth are also being empowered to take leadership positions.

They are members of the Oversight Committee, participate in our Youth Council, influence program planning and decision making, participate in different local and city-wide initiatives, learn how to organize, run campaigns, apply for grants and develop their own entrepreneurial projects.

Strategies used to sustain our model include (1) developing a clear vision (2) using local resources (hiring community members and focusing in capacities rather than needs) (3) developing broad-based community support (including day-time staff) (4) create strong internal systems and structures (5) strategic financial orientation (diversifying funding sources).