Support Learner Advocates in Your Community
Learner advocates support young people and their families to:
- Connect to learning opportunities, in and beyond school ;
- Remove barriers getting in the way of their learning;
- Support their learning goals and interests;
- Broaden their networks and develop new connections.
There are people and organizations across communities doing this work, though they might not call themselves learner advocates and, oftentimes, are not provided with the necessary resources to do this work.
RESCHOOL has partnered with organizations over the last several years to support, resource and expand learner advocate services to families. We have done that by:
- Providing learner advocate services as an employee benefit.
- Partnering with community-based organizations to support learner advocates, resource families to access learning and fund out-of-school learning providers meeting the needs and interests in the community.
- Convening learner advocates across organizations to learn from each other.
See who we’ve worked with!
Explore partnering with RESCHOOL to strengthen learner advocate services in your community
Meet Jasmine
Jasmine is a recent high school graduate. When she first met with her advocate during the fall of her senior year, she expressed an interest in becoming a dental hygienist or dental assistant. Jasmine also expressed an interest in traveling and seeing new parts of the world.
Jasmine and her advocate looked at three local schools, one community college and two technical/trade schools, where she could become a dental assistant. Her advocate passed along application, financial, and general program information for Jasmine and her mother to review together. Jasmine’s advocate also introduced her to dental organizations who travel overseas to bring dental care and needs to communities as a possible future volunteer opportunity given her interest in traveling and becoming a dental professional. Jasmine’s interests have turned into actionable exploration for continued education and potential career opportunities.
Jasmine originally planned to start her dental assistant journey after graduation, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic she and her mother decided it would be best for Jasmine to start her dental program at a later date. Jasmine is currently working at a local restaurant and saving money until she starts school next semester. Life and her post-secondary goals are inextricably connected and while Jasmine is managing all of it, her advocate is checking in periodically to support her in sorting through those complexities.
Meet Malena
When Malena first met her Advocate, she needed to secure special education services for one of her two sons. She felt overwhelmed and unprepared to navigate the education system and advocate for her son. Two years later, Malena is navigating meetings fully aware of both her and her son’s rights, has an understanding of the curriculum, an ability to clearly communicate her goals for her son and knows what her role is in the process.
Malena’s Advocate also connected her with the Stanley Marketplace, a community hub where she and the boys can meet other people in the community and explore new experiences. The boys loved going to the MakerSpace camp where they learned to work with a 3-D printer. The kids have also attended camp two years in a row at Avid4Adventure and The Art Garage, utilizing scholarship money ReSchool has raised, and discounts Malena applied for through the programs.
Malena has since soared with confidence as a parent and in her ability to network a system to get what she needs for her children inside and outside of school. She has begun to share her experience, recommendations, tips and tricks on accessing outside learning opportunities with her friends, family and colleagues.
She has become an advocate herself, enhancing the lives of other children through her relationships and sharing of knowledge. which helped make transparent all the steps he’d need to take to pursue a career as a game designer. Together, they researched colleges with strong computer science programs, but with scholarships available to lower the cost.
Meet Zuri
Amadi is a high school senior and first generation American. His mom, Zuri, immigrated from Ethiopia with an elementary education. She signed up for the support of an Advocate at work because the college process confused her and she wanted to be sure Amadi was on the right track with college applications.
Amadi is deeply passionate about game design, and while he intended to go to college all along, he’d never met with a college counselor and the financial aid deadlines were quickly approaching.
His Advocate connected Amadi with a tool called Couragion which helped make transparent all the steps he’d need to take to pursue a career as a game designer. Together, they researched colleges with strong computer science programs, but with scholarships available to lower the cost.
Amadi is now a sophomore at University of Colorado- Colorado Springs. He had a wonderful freshman year and is excited for his future in Game Design. His Advocate is working with him to find an internship for Summer 2020 and to gain first-hand experience in the field. His post-secondary experience is aligned with his skills and interests.
Be Inspired and Innovate
Step outside of yourself to imagine, co-create and try new things.
RESCHOOL hosts sessions and provides coaching that supports you in :
- Intentionally centering the experiences and expertise of families, young people or education providers in your work;
- Cultivating equitable learning ecosystems so young people have access to expansive opportunities;
- Providing an experience for your team or a group of people that inspires your work to create more learner-centered, accessible systems of learning.
We use Design Lab, REVOLVE, and other resources and expertise in our toolbox to facilitate these sessions.
Interested in learning more? Fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.
Interested in receiving coaching services from RESCHOOL?
Interested in RESCHOOL facilitating an in-person workshop (available throughout Colorado’s Front Range)?