Keeping
|
|
 At precisely 8:30 a.m. the walls of Freedom School vibrated with rhythm and possibility. Scholars swayed, clapped, and chanted ready to hear Shamaiye read to them.
After the reading, students asked questions about her life, why the book was chosen that she read and advice to give a student for success. Shamaiye lives the belief that education is liberation. The scholars saw someone who looks like them, leads like them, and fights for them. It was a great morning of inspiration. To Find out more about Freedom Schools or to get involved, visit their website HERE
0 Comments
 The work ain’t new, but this window is. Everything we’ve built—community schools momentum, affordable-housing wins, Harambee joy…only matters if we keep pushing. I’m not chasing titles; I’m chasing change our kids can feel in real time. That takes a collective.
Volunteer, Donate, Join the Collective TODAY! www.shamaiye.com Reimagining Education. Reshaping Possibilities. Rising Together.  📅 Wednesday, July 9, 2025 @ 5 PM
📍 Pauline’s Tea Bar & Apothecary, 2326 Arty Ave, Charlotte 28208 👩👩👧👦 Family-friendly — bring the kiddos! RSVP HERE RSVP, grab a volunteer shift, or donate at shamaiye.com and let’s keep building the schools our kids deserve. When I became an active education constituent, I quickly realized how disjointed our public school system had become and especially for families and children on the West Side of Charlotte. I witnessed broken policy; broken trust, lack of access, and broken promises. The impact on our children will have generations of negative impact.
That realization lit a fire in me. It made me a fierce organizer, determined to bridge the gap between schools and communities. I’ve stayed the course because I believe every child deserves a fighting chance, and every family deserves to feel seen, heard, and served. I’ve remained in the fight, even when the way forward felt unclear. I’ve listened. I’ve learned. I’ve shown up with consistency, with compassion, and with conviction. And that’s what makes me a strong candidate for District 2. This collective we’re building is about rewriting the story of public education rooted in equity, accountability, and deep love for our people. I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far, and even more hopeful for what’s ahead. The journey toward systemic change has been powerful. And I’m just getting started. I’m asking this community that I love so deeply to fight for me and with me, just as I’ve fought for us. Your support, your vote, your voice, and your presence will determine what’s possible for our schools, our families, and our future. Let’s reimagine education, reshape possibilities, and rise together. With gratitude and purpose! Shamaiye Haynes Our “Community Schools: A People’s Perspective”  forum on June 9 proved that District 2 already holds the talent, vision, and willpower to transform every campus into a community-powered hub. Parents mapped neighborhood assets in real time, students spotlighted barriers only they can see, and local partners pledged resources from mental-health counseling to workforce coaching and all before the evening ended. This blog post picks up exactly where that momentum left off. It distills the forum’s biggest takeaway. Solutions must be designed with the community, not for it. It lays out the next steps: forming Community School Councils, launching an asset-mapping sprint, and recruiting site coordinators rooted in our neighborhoods. Think of June 9 as the ignition and these pages as the blueprint for keeping the fire burning until every child in District 2 feels the difference. Community Schools: Turning Our Schools into Hubs of Opportunity I’ve walked the hallways of District 2 schools as a mother, a community organizer, and with your help, a representative on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. In every role I’ve seen the same truth: when a child’s family is struggling, when health care is out of reach, when housing is unstable, classroom success is an uphill battle. The Community Schools model tackles those barriers head-on by wrapping academic rigor with the resources families actually need. The CSM is a proven strategy for liberation and belonging. What exactly is a Community School? A Community School is both a high-quality public school and a neighborhood hub. It keeps the doors open before and after the bell for tutoring, health clinics, mental-health counseling, meals, adult education, and culturally rich activities. Teachers still teach but a site coordinator braids together nonprofit partners, local government, and parents so educators can stay laser-focused on instruction. Why it works
The evidence is so compelling that North Carolina launched a statewide Community Schools Coalition last year, backed by U.S. Department of Education funds.nccscoalition.org Evaluators at Duke University are already tracking positive early results.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu How this model answers CMS’s biggest challenges
My plan for District 2 Secure sustainable funding by recruiting philanthropic partners and leveraging the new federal Full-Service Community Schools grants. Place a trained coordinator in each pilot school and no one-size-fits-all fixes, but a shared standard of excellence. Momentum is already growing Earlier this month our Community Schools: A People’s Perspective forum drew educators, students, and advocates to map out next steps. If you missed it, visit our Google Site to read the exploration report and view the growing resource library. We’ll keep adding updates, events, and volunteer opportunities there Join the movement
Together we can transform every District 2 campus into a beacon of opportunity that our children deserve. Share your story, sign up to volunteer, or simply spread the word that community-powered schools work. Build an implementation team of students, parents, educators, faith leaders, and neighborhood organizations. Measure what matters, publicly. Attendance, achievement, and family-satisfaction dashboards will be published on our Community Schools site so you can hold me accountable. |
Shamaiye HaynesShamaiye is a candidate for CMS School Board. Archives
July 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed