Community In Education

Scaling Experiential Learning in the Curriculum: How Iron Range Engineering Transformed Engineering Education

Engineering has transformed nearly every part of modern life, from the phones in our pockets to the systems powering global industry. But the way engineers are educated has often moved far more slowly than the profession itself. Employers are asking for graduates who can navigate ambiguity, communicate across teams, and contribute meaningfully from the…

Tiger Woods’ TGR Foundation Is Reimagining Educational Access Through STEAM, AI, and Community Partnerships

As schools across the United States continue grappling with post-pandemic learning loss, declining student engagement, and shrinking emergency funding, nonprofit organizations are increasingly stepping in to fill critical gaps. Recent national studies on literacy recovery, student engagement, and career-connected learning show that educators are facing significant post-pandemic challenges in keeping students connected to pathways that…

The New Rules of Discoverability: How User-Generated Content Is Reshaping Search, Trust, and Brand Visibility

User-generated content (UGC) is moving from marketing side dish to main course as large language models change how people discover brands, products, creators, and ideas. Customer reviews, forum posts, videos, and community conversations increasingly carry more influence than polished brand copy because they feel more specific, lived-in, and trustworthy. As AI systems learn from…

How Rural Schools Are Redefining School Safety Through Relationships and Proactive Systems

On Principles of Change, a podcast by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Miguel Salazar, principal of Sundown Middle School in Sundown, Texas, to explore how one rural district is redefining school safety through culture, systems, and human connection. Together, they unpack how proactive frameworks, community values, and intentional relationship-building can…

Beyond Enforcement: The Evolving Role of School Resource Officers

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Penny Schultz, Assistant Director of School Safety and Security at Chesapeake Public Schools, to unpack the often-misunderstood role of School Resource Officers (SROs). The conversation highlights how effective SROs function not…

Beyond Drills: Building a Culture of Safety in Schools

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of Principals of Change, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Jeff Bryant, Principal of Jefferson Middle School, and David Sally, Associate Principal of West Aurora High School, to explore how effective school safety goes far beyond drills and locked doors. Drawing on…

What the University of Michigan Center for Innovation Means for Detroit: Education, Jobs, and a Community-Driven Vision for the Future

Detroit is in the middle of a historic transformation—powered increasingly by technology, workforce innovation, and community-driven economic mobility. As industries shift and new tech corridors rise, cities like Detroit are asking a critical question: How do we ensure the future of innovation belongs to everyone who lives here? The upcoming launch of the University of…

From Caregiver to Changemaker: How Purpose and Community Create Lasting Impact

Resilience isn’t just about enduring challenges — it’s about leading with compassion, patience, and faith, even when the path feels uncertain. It’s a quality embodied by every caregiver, whose daily acts of care and commitment reflect the essence of true leadership — helping others grow stronger through empathy, service, and understanding. In this episode…

Owning Your Development by Building Networks, Finding Mentors, and Embracing Servant Leadership

At the heart of every career journey is the question of how we grow—not just in skills, but in purpose, relationships, and impact. That kind of growth takes shape through everyday choices, the mentors who guide us, and the communities that stretch us to become more. Each step forward becomes part of a larger…

MeetYourClass Heads to NACAC 2025 with a Vision for the Future of Enrollment and Community On Campus

With enrollment numbers slipping and student expectations shifting, colleges are under more pressure than ever to create real, lasting connections that make students feel part of a community. Research shows that institutions lose up to 10–40% of admitted students to “summer melt” each year, a challenge that directly impacts revenue and retention. At the…

From Bitter to Better: How Purpose and Second Chances Can Change Entire Communities (Ep. 2)

In the second installment of this powerful two-part series, DisruptED turns from personal origin stories to the enduring lessons that come from surviving life’s hardest seasons. For host Ron J Stefanski and guest John Valverde, President and CEO of YouthBuild Global, the conversation is rooted in lived experience: moments of deep loss, the resilience…

Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Disrupting Outdated Education with Employer-Driven, Community-Powered, Practical Skills Training

Workforce training is undergoing a radical transformation as industries face critical talent shortages and rapid technological change. Building a future-ready workforce requires rethinking traditional higher education models. These models emphasize broad academic development over targeted skill-building and struggle to keep pace with employer demands. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report…

Bringing Community into the Transformation of K-12 Schools: The Impact of Mentors, Local Voices, and Student Entrepreneurs

As K-12 schools across the U.S. struggle to recover from the learning loss and emotional fallout of the pandemic, a deeper reckoning is underway—one that challenges the very foundation of who’s responsible for educating our children. Despite billions in federal relief, a third of U.S. students are not even reading at a basic level…

How Calbright College Is Using AI, Micro-Internships, and Flexible Learning to Serve Adult Learners in California

At a time when traditional higher education is being reevaluated for its return on investment, institutions like Calbright College are emerging as transformative forces. With roughly 6.6 million students in California having some college experience but no degree, the pressure is on to create alternative pathways that are flexible, skill-driven, and aligned with workforce…

From Freshmen to Founders: Michigan Students Take on Higher Ed’s Summer Melt Crisis with MeetYourClass

A growing number of colleges are struggling to convert applicants into enrolled students—and to keep them engaged through graduation. With Gen Z students relying heavily on familiar digital platforms like Instagram and Discord for social interaction, traditional college tools for orientation, enrollment, and community-building often miss the mark. According to research, between 10 to 40…

The New Formula for Workforce and Talent Development: Inclusive Partnerships, Braided Funding, and Career-Aligned Training

Across the country, workforce development systems are under pressure to deliver better outcomes in an economy that demands speed, flexibility, and equity. Traditional pathways, such as community college without clear career prospects, no longer serve enough people well. A report by the Center for Community College Student Engagement found that 42 percent of community…

Spring Forward: Colorado PGA Pros Gear Up for a Season of Learning, Leadership, and Legacy

Golf professionals across Colorado are channeling spring momentum into a transformative season focused on skill development and industry leadership

Detroit’s Workforce Transformation Runs on Innovation, Inclusion, and Opportunity

Grassroots leaders are reimagining how cities build job-ready talent through community-driven partnerships and flexible pathways

DisruptED in the D: A Story of Hope with Portia Roberson (Ep. 1)

A Detroit nonprofit leader shares how workforce development can ensure the city's economic revival reaches those left behind

DisruptED in the D: The Power of Black Leadership with Dwan Dandridge (Ep. 1)

Black-led organizations in Detroit are reshaping the city's future despite facing significant barriers to funding and resources

DisruptED in the D: A Story of Hope with Portia Roberson (Ep. 2)

One Detroit leader is racing to ensure the city's tech boom lifts historically marginalized communities out of poverty

DisruptED in the D: Building an Inclusive Future with Black Leaders Detroit’s CEO Dwan Dandridge (Ep. 2)

One Detroit leader is ensuring Black entrepreneurs share in the city's economic growth through strategic capital deployment

Leading the Change in Corporate Social Responsibility with Kelem Butts: Tackling Health & Educational Challenges in a Disrupted World

Pivoting corporate giving strategies requires leaders who understand both business transformation and community impact

Community and Belonging in the DisruptED World of Education

Students thrive when they feel connected, even as technology transforms how and where they learn

Celebrating National GED Day

Leaders challenge workplace bias against alternative education credentials and unlock workforce potential

Safe Return: How Schools Can Prepare for a Back-to-School, Part 1

District leaders share practical strategies for balancing security protocols with student and staff wellness during the back-to-school transition

Equitable Funding, Community Involvement, and AI Solutions Can Help Overcome Educational Inequities

Strategic investments in underserved schools, community partnerships, and emerging technologies are narrowing achievement gaps for vulnerable student population

Linking Education with Employment: How Aspire Ability is Fighting Underemployment in the Navajo Nation

Targeted educational initiatives are proving essential to reducing underemployment and spurring economic growth in Native American communities

Turning Tragedy into Triumph: How Ordinary People Can Channel the Power of Resilience to Make an Extraordinary Impact

Personal hardship becomes a catalyst for community transformation when individuals harness resilience as their greatest strength

Eradicating the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Security leaders reveal how proper school safety measures can interrupt the pathway pushing students toward the criminal justice system