COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Growing kindness, confidence, creativity, and connection — one story at a time.

Community Schools are learning communities that choose to become part of the Community Story Shelf Initiative.

This may include:

• Public schools

• Independent schools

• Private schools

• Homeschool groups

• Preschools

• Colleges and universities (if you choose)

• Alternative learning programs

• Teachers

• Educational assistants

• Principals

• School librarians

• PACs

• Students

They may participate by sharing stories, displaying books, encouraging student creativity, supporting local authors, exploring kindness-based activities, or helping grow a culture of connection within their school community.

A Community School does not have to do everything.

It begins with one simple choice:

What if we chose love instead?™

WHAT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CAN DO

Community Schools may choose to:

Create or host a Community Story Shelf

Explore books and activities that encourage literacy, kindness, creativity and community connection.

Encourage student writing, drawing, reading, and storytelling

Support kindness, courage, boundaries, belonging, friendship, and trust

Connect students with local authors, animals, nature, and community stories

Display approved What if We Chose Love Instead™ Recognition materials

Share student-led kindness projects or community connection ideas

Rotate books or materials from other participating authors, schools, libraries, organizations, or communities when possible, within your community

Every school can participate in a way that fits its own students, staff, space, and community.

WHY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MATTER

Every school helps shape the future.

When students are encouraged to read, create, explore, care for one another, and become active members of their communities, those lessons often last a lifetime.

The Community Story Shelf Initiative exists to support schools by creating opportunities to celebrate literacy, creativity, kindness, local connections, and lifelong learning—both inside and outside the classroom.

Participation is always flexible. Every school can decide what works best for its students, staff, and community.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

Every Community School is different.

Some schools may simply place books in their library.

Others may choose to build an entire project around reading, writing, art, nature, kindness, or community service.

Students might:

• Write their own stories

• Create artwork

• Interview local community members

• Participate in reading challenges

• Visit Community Story Shelves

• Meet local authors, storytellers, illustrators, artists and community members.

• Explore local history

• Learn about wildlife and stewardship

• Create projects that encourage kindness within their own school

Every act of participation helps strengthen both the school and the community around it.

CONNECTING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Schools don't learn in isolation.

They are part of a much larger community.

Community Schools may choose to work alongside:

• Libraries

• Museums

• Historical societies

• Local authors

• Businesses

• Community organizations

• Volunteers

• Seniors

• Tourism organizations

• Parks and stewardship groups

These partnerships create opportunities for students to see learning come alive beyond the classroom.

WHAT PARTICIPATION LOOKS LIKE

There is no single way to become a Community School.

Participation may be as simple as reading together or as ambitious as creating school-wide projects that celebrate kindness, literacy, creativity, and community connection.

Schools are encouraged to participate in ways that reflect their own students, goals, traditions, and available resources.

Every positive contribution matters.

RECOGNITION

Schools choosing to become Official Participants may be recognized as part of the What if We Chose Love Instead™ initiative.

Recognition may include participation listings, window displays, website recognition, future recognition opportunites, and opportunities to share student projects and community success stories as the initiative continues to grow.

GROWING TOGETHER

Communities become stronger when schools, families, businesses, organizations, libraries, volunteers, and local leaders work together.

Every story shared...

Every student encouraged...

Every act of kindness...

Every connection made...

helps grow something much larger than a single classroom.

Together, we can help build communities where stories, kindness, creativity, and belonging continue to grow for generations.

Every Community School becomes another place where young people discover that their stories matter.

READY TO JOIN?

If your school would like to become part of the Community Story Shelf Initiative, What if We Chose Love Instead™, we'd love to welcome you.

Learn how your school can become an Official Participant of our Community Story Shelf initiative and help grow a community where everyone has a place to belong.

Back to Growing Our Communities