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Community organizing cycle as a model for school transformation

Design · All designs
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

The report describes the community organizing cycle as the change model embodied by the RCS campaign. It explains that this cycle "seeks to build collaborative power in relationship-centered and incremental ways and to elevate the voices of often marginalized groups in change efforts." Key dimensions include a focus on relationship-building, deliberate efforts to ensure diverse actors can share experiences and concerns to identify actionable issues, and leadership development through educational campaigns and training sessions that expand reach and build alliances. This model positions youth, educators, and leaders as co-drivers of equity-oriented continuous improvement rather than recipients of top-down reform.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

  • Ongoing engagement between youth organizers and school/district staff to build connections, surface common concerns, and inform co-determined action steps

Constraints

  • Because the approach is modeled after the community organizing cycle, relationship-centered transformation manifests differently in local settings

Target Learners

  • Secondary school youth organizers
  • Youth of color in community organizing chapters

Learning Goals

  • Leadership development
  • Deep listening and effective communication skills
  • Understanding of systemic racism and education inequity

Claims

Examples

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Key Sources

  • Hernández, L. H., & Rivero, E. (2023). Striving for relationship-centered schools: Insights from a community-based transformation campaign. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/621.856
Page metadata
Field Value
type design
id community-organizing-cycle-school-change
title Community organizing cycle as a model for school transformation
description The report describes the community organizing cycle as the change model embodied by the RCS campaign.
status review
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-10
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 1 — hernández-2023

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