While the blog is on summer vacation, we’re sharing past posts about the many ways City Connects helps students thrive.
This week’s roundup looks at how City Connects Coordinators create fun and joyful experiences for their students and families.
Making Summer Magic: City Connects Coordinators Secure Summer Support for Families
City Connects Blog, May 22, 2025
For months leading up to summer vacation, City Connects Coordinators from Massachusetts to Minnesota worked tirelessly to make summer magic for their families. Coordinators in Minneapolis-St.Paul secured a scholarship to give 24 children the unique opportunity to attend sleepaway camp. And, through another local partnership, they connected students with bikes to build independence and make summer memories.
“We know that summer access to opportunities can really make a huge difference in the lives of our students, whether it’s academic opportunities, enrichment opportunities, or the funding and access to be able to do fun family activities,” said Peyton Schick, City Connects Program Manager in Minnesota.
Coordinators in Salem, MA teamed up with community organizations to connect students with free, full-day summer programs that offer enrichment opportunities like photography, robotics, and cooking. Salem Coordinators also connected families with an array of fun opportunities in their seaside city, including sailing lessons through the Sail Salem program.
Possibilities in Poughkeepsie: City Connects Teams Up with a City on the Rise
City Connects Blog, March 27, 2025
Poughkeepsie, NY sits on the Hudson River and is home to hundreds of acres of parks, two colleges, one university, art studios, a children’s museum, and an abundance of community pride.
City Connects has been in Poughkeepsie’s Early Learning Center for less than a year and Coordinators are already looking for creative ways to connect students with the many opportunities for joy their city has to offer.
“We found out that a lot of students love art, swimming, and LEGOs. We have a swimming pool in our middle school, several community art studios/programs, and LEGOLAND is right across the river. We can use these resources that exist in the community to build up students’ skills, build up their strengths, and leverage them so that their social-emotional learning components are just exploding with possibilities,” said Diandria Williams, who oversees the implementation of City Connects in Poughkeepsie.
City Connects & Shore Collaborative Back-To-School Event
City Connects Blog, September 26, 2025
City Connects Coordinators at the Shore Educational Collaborative in Chelsea, MA organized a fun back-to-school event where students competed in Olympic-style games while enjoying food and ice cream. It was the first event of its kind at the school, which serves students with complex special educational needs. Fifty-three families attended the event.
“We held this event to let our families know that the Shore staff are here to assist beyond the realm of education,” said City Connects Coordinator Antonio Martinez.
“The back-to-school event was an initiative to increase engagement between our school and our students and their families in the hopes of establishing a strong sense of community going into the year,” added City Connects Coordinator Brianna Mancino.
Expanding students’ experiences through enrichment
City Connects Blog, April 5, 2024
At Catholic Central in Springfield, Ohio, City Connects Coordinators are passionate about exposing students to a wide array of enrichment activities.
“We see what interests our students,” said City Connects Coordinator Rosie Bond. “And we’re lucky that our community is very interested in responding and supporting our students.”
The Coordinators connect teachers to community partners, help organize field trips, and go on some field trips to provide support. As a result, Springfield has become a treasure trove for their students who have visited the Springfield Museum of Art, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and a community garden where they planted flowers and painted murals.
