Yesterday in Charlotte, Citizen Schools held its annual Celebrating Community Collaboration breakfast.
In seven states in 32 schools in 14 communities serving 5,300 students, the nonprofit Citizen Schools serves urban middle school students in low-income communities. In North Carolina, Citizen Schools is led by Jake House, and in Charlotte and Durham, he says the program expands the learning day by connecting a team of adults with students to provide learning experiences that give students the skills, access, and beliefs they need to succeed in school, college, and careers.
One of the organization’s strategies highlighted at the event was its apprenticeship program. This is where members of the community — Citizen Teachers — teach hands-on classes in their field of expertise.
At the end of the experience, students create a project encapsulating what they’ve learned.
In the photos below, you will see students sharing these projects with attendees at the event.
The photos are sandwiched between two videos: one of keynote speaker Brad Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and on the Board of EdNC; and the other of Joe Darko, a volunteer Citizen Teacher from Microsoft.
Brad Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Joe Darko, a citizen teacher with Citizen Schools, speaking at the event
