These schools help their neighbors learn and grow

Westview High School and YMCA
Omaha, Nebraska

When Westview High School was in the early planning stages, the visioning process revealed that residents of northwest Omaha and the rapidly growing suburb of Bennington wanted more recreational and educational resources. This need would only increase as the population grew.

“It helped us see that we needed to create spaces where everybody could come in and be a learner,” says Susan Christopherson, Omaha Public Schools’ chief academic officer. A partnership between the school district and the YMCA of Greater Omaha resulted in a new high school with shared facilities like a swimming pool, weight room, and ball courts that serve students and the public.

The YMCA offers classes for everyone, from T-ball and swimming for young children, to small-group fitness training for adults, to courses like “Brain and Body” for people living with Parkinson’s Disease. “There was quite an effort to work together to help support the area’s growth and development,” Christopherson says.

The Den at Jean Childs Young Middle School
Atlanta, Georgia

To assist students and others in the school community who are facing economic and social barriers to success, an entire wing at Jean Childs Young Middle School has been transformed into a wraparound support center called “The Den.” It’s the first of its kind at a Georgia middle school, and it offers mentoring, tutoring, and career exploration for students, as well as a Goodr grocery store and a washer and dryer for students and their families. The Den is open to the entire school community, including bus drivers, cafeteria staff, and anyone else involved with the school.

“It’s about making sure that services not readily available elsewhere are available here,” says Wanda Moore Williams, an assistant principal and former teacher. “We aim to ensure the school community has everything they need.” Williams says future plans for the center include incorporating a family therapy program, as well as music and art therapy for students.

The interior redesign incorporates natural light and bold graphics to create a welcoming and stigma-free environment that everyone in the school, not only students with referrals, can enjoy. There’s even a “Zen Zone” for teachers, with massage chairs, dim lighting, and a coffee bar. “The design of this hallway attracts everybody,” Williams says. “When alumni return, they say they wish it was like this when they were here. All the kids are empowered in the Den.”

Lindbergh Farmers Club
St. Louis, Missouri

Local farmers’ associations played a significant role in the rural Midwest in the late 1800s through the mid-20th century, promoting research, business development, and neighborly cooperation. The Concord Farmers Club served its community southwest of St. Louis for nearly 150 years, and its building gradually evolved into an event venue as suburban encroachment rendered its original mission obsolete.

When the club closed in 2021, Lindbergh Schools acquired the property, which lay next door to one of the district’s middle schools. To celebrate the site’s history and the city’s reputation for innovation in plant science and biotechnology, and to further the district’s commitment to experiential learning, Lindbergh Schools superintendent Tony Lake envisioned a hands-on agricultural center for K-12 students and area residents. “St. Louis is a major ag tech hub,” Lake says. “Creating a relevant, modern agricultural experience here is honoring the past and preparing our students for the future. It’ll include everything from the humanities, to science and technology, to entrepreneurship and community engagement.”

Although Lake expects to employ two adults at the site, he wants students to take the lead in hosting public tours, market days, and special programs, as well as running an on-site museum and retail shop. “The kids will own that space,” he says. “They’ll curate the museum displays. They’ll manage the store. We’re establishing a mindset of being agile to give students what they need in real time, and that means real-world experiences in addition to core academic skills.”