A front-page Lynn Daily Item piece titled “Community Schools are a home run,” by Paul Halloran, recognized United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Lynn Public Schools for their Community Schools partnership, a strategy to improve student achievement and engagement by strengthening the conditions for learning. As part of this partnership, United Way has funded and worked closely with two Community Schools directors at the Ford Elementary School and Washington STEM Elementary School since fall of 2023.

“United Way is advancing the Community School strategy as part of its New Way Forward plan to advance an economically just region. Hiring Community School directors is a key element of the strategy,” the story reads. “We’ve become students of the Community Schools model, and we understand the framework and strategy,” said Sarah Link, Senior Vice President, Community Impact for United Way of Massachusetts Bay. Link said with the United Way having enjoyed a decades-long partnership with LPS and a network of nonprofits in the city, supporting the Community Schools program made sense.”

Funded by United Way in partnership with school districts across the state, Community Schools build a strategic collaboration with students, families, partners, the school and broader community to produce strong academic and social outcomes for students. United Way is creating deep, trusting relationships with these schools and community-based organizations in Boston, Lynn, Salem, and other communities to best meet the needs of students and families.

“We believe the Community School strategy will transform the way schools serve as an anchor of community support to improve outcomes and lead to fundamental shifts in the way schools and their partners are resourced,” said Link.