Across Philadelphia, there are 20 City-designated Community Schools that serve nearly 13,000 students. These schools represent a dynamic partnership among the City of Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia, and school communities to remove barriers to learning and support the success of each student.
We were fortunate to visit the Serve Philadelphia VISTAs, Jessica La and Milani Walker, and their supervisor, Maxwell Akuamoah-Boateng, to learn more about how VISTAs are building resources and tools to expand the reach of Community Schools.
Community Schools are special because their reach extends beyond the student body. They become hubs of civic engagement, nurturing local leaders and providing pathways for active participation in the neighborhood.
Jessica expresses how memorable it was organizing this year’s volunteer appreciation events, celebrating them and their vital role in creating a shared community.
One of Milani’s proudest moments was creating an informative strategic plan. She shares, “During the process I spent time in person at different Community Schools and it gave me a deeper understanding. I was motivated to make sure the plan was informative and written so everyone could understand it.”
Over the course of conducting 60+ interviews, both VISTAs exercised strong communication skills and built relationships with a variety of Community School stakeholders. Jessica says, “By the end I was a natural at introducing myself and being confident in reaching out to anyone.”
Like many journeys, Jessica and Milani’s came with challenges. When their original supervisor unexpectedly transitioned out of the role, Milani and Jessica faced uncertainty. However, with Maxwell’s strong support, they quickly reflected on what was within their control and found stability for the work ahead.
Since then, the duo continues to impress Maxwell with their teamwork and efficiency. He jokes about keeping up with them, always finding them ahead of schedule.
He highlights, “It was actually due to the research Jessica and Milani conducted that we could provide recommendations to improve our food security initiatives with the Office of Children and Families.”
Streamlining and improving systems is the exact type of operations and strategy work that Milani and Jessica find themselves gravitating towards in the future. Jessica and Milani may not know exactly what’s next, but they know they’re ready. They have built skills, formed relationships, and most importantly left a long-term impact on the expanding Community Schools infrastructure.
Thank you Milani and Jessica for your service!
