Reimagining Student Support: Insights from the California Community Schools EMPOWER Summit

The Loews Hotel in Hollywood, CA buzzed with energy and excitement as over a thousand students, caregivers, support personnel, educators, and community partners gathered in June to share their vision for school transformation at the California Community Schools EMPOWER Summit. 

The Summit provided a dedicated space for California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) grant recipients to collaboratively reimagine the future of community schools, made possible by California’s historic $4.1 billion CCSPP investment. Sown To Grow was honored to participate in the two-day event, which offered a valuable opportunity to deepen our partnership with the districts we support as CCSPP technical assistance providers.

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As a team dedicated to enhancing whole-child education, we stand firmly aligned with the CCSPP’s mission to transform schools into community hubs that center on the needs of students and their families. We were inspired to see students and parents at the forefront of discussions during the EMPOWER Summit, sharing the challenges they face in their communities and how they envision working alongside schools to navigate those challenges. The Summit was a tremendous success, as it provided a rare opportunity for diverse stakeholder groups to engage, share insights, and gain a holistic perspective on strategies they can implement to fully embody California’s Community Schools Model.

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As we reflect on our time at the EMPOWER Summit, we are left with 3 key takeaways:

1. Significant state investments in education can make school transformation possible and sustainable. The overarching spirit of the EMPOWER Summit was one of celebration, as attendees imagined the possibilities that CCSPP funding unlocks for high-needs districts across California. With each qualifying school receiving up to $200K for planning and $2.3M for implementing the Community Schools Model, attendees felt genuinely empowered to turn their visions into reality. While conferences typically present educators with new ideas and best practices, budget constraints can make it difficult to implement comprehensive, sustainable solutions. With funding barriers removed, EMPOWER Summit attendees were able to dive deep into tactical discussions of execution, share resources, and leave feeling energized and ready to act on the ideas they had explored.

2. Inclusive, bottom-up decision-making is critical in order to maximize resources and affect lasting change. The EMPOWER Summit gave students and their families a unique opportunity to lead sessions and engage meaningfully with leaders in education. Students specifically were given a platform to discuss their passions for science, sports, and community service, as well as share personal experiences navigating challenges such as bullying or mental health crises in their communities. Too often in education, top-down policies react to perceived issues and prescribe solutions that ultimately have minimal impact. Structured opportunities for families and students to engage in decision-making ensure that leaders understand the real-time needs of their communities and can take proactive measures to meet those needs effectively. At the Summit, we saw firsthand how important collaboration and trust are in building sustainable programming that truly empowers students to be their best selves and best learners.

3. The Community Schools Model can be part of a cohesive whole-child program. As districts across the country shift towards implementing a whole-child approach, educators have been asked to learn and integrate various frameworks and strategies to support student success (SEL, MTSS, PBIS, Community Schools, etc.). During Sessions, we were pleased to see school and district personnel anticipate educator concerns and engage in thoughtful discussions on how to make whole-child support feel manageable. At their core, each of these initiatives aim to uplift student needs, foster strong relationships, and create optimal learning conditions. When schools plan around these objectives and communicate the Community Schools Model as part of a cohesive strategy, they are better positioned or success.

As districts in California transition from planning for Community Schools to implementing them in their contexts, the EMPOWER Summit offered us a preview of what the future of education can look like in the state. While much work lies ahead as schools continue to rethink student support, the enthusiasm we witnessed at the Summit left us deeply inspired and optimistic about the potential for lasting systemic change. When communities rally around a shared vision and are equipped with the necessary resources, opportunities become limitless.

Sown To Grow is proud to take part in the transformational work being done through the California Community Schools Partnership Program. We are excited to support the final cohort of grantees in 2025, and will continue to help our partners develop proactive, actionable programs that support student well-being. For more information about our role as CCSPP technical assistance providers please visit our website.