Community Engagement: Enka Community School Initiative, NC

Community schools are hubs that bring people together--teachers, students, parents, and neighbors--to support students' academic success, support strong families, and engage communities. The Enka Community School Initiative is a collaborative effort of Enka Middle School (EMS), Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, United Way’s Middle School Success Initiative & the YMCA of Western North Carolina. The goal of this effort is to strengthen community support for EMS students and families through a variety of skill-building classes and family-friendly activities, afterschool clubs, and volunteer opportunities that support student success. 

Anna Gettles &  Kristen Muscaro

(narrative from Anna Gettles)

"As Parent and Community Engagement Coordinator, I develop and implement free evening classes and programs for Enka families as well as recruit volunteers for the school day, after-school clubs, and evening programs.  One of the more successful projects this year has been our October Make a Difference Day volunteer event. School administration voiced that this year they want to focus on building school pride through school beatification. My co-VISTA and I planned a service activity involving weeding, mulching, and beautifying the area around the school mascot, an Air Force jet that sits in front of the school. The week of the service day there were only 3 volunteers signed up, but on the day of the event 7 people showed up! It turned out great and the volunteers had incredible ideas about future projects to continue beautifying the school.  Currently, I am working to plan series of evening family classes entitled “Healthy Cooking on a Budget”. In these classes families learn how to cook healthy nutritious meals without breaking the bank. The cooking classes are a great way to engage parents and their children at EMS in a safe, educational, and fun atmosphere.  About 60 % of EMS students qualify for free and reduced lunch. The cooking classes deal with the issues of hunger and food insecurity in the Enka-Candler community by providing a free meal and education regarding food budgeting.  The classes are free not only to EMS families but also to Enka community members as well.  I continue to look toward the future planning upcoming classes, service days, and events while trying to stay in the present—cultivating awareness and consciousness of what is happening now. So far, it is my experience as a VISTA that I feel like I can always, always do more.  I do not want to spend this year constantly worrying about how much more I could or should be doing rather than what I can do now. I took a pledge promising to “get things done,” and that is my goal here at Enka Community School. Get things done. Mary Oliver, the popular American poet said, “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” Well said Ms. Oliver, well said."

Anna Gettles  Parent and Community Engagement Coordinator

Kristen Muscaro Student Success Coordinator