School board signs on
to Grassroots Review partnership
Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - Roderick Benns
A news site to tell stories about social change is being seen as a community development opportunity by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

The School Board has signed on to be a part of The Grassroots Review, a cross-sectoral partnership to opereate a news site geared to create dialogue and community linkages across social change areas.

These areas, so far, include new urbanism, transportation, the environment and creating peaceful communities. The latter – creating peaceful communities - is where the school board sees a great fit for its own character education initiative.

"We are hoping that this relationship with community partners will raise awareness in the community of what the schools are doing, to support parents in the character development of
children and youth," says Mary Ellen French, vice principal on special assignment: character education.

"We also hope to appeal to community members to join us in that supportive role in the wider community, (such as) when they are involved in community activities," like shopping in local businesses, she says as an example.

French says the African proverb "it takes a village to raise a child" can be modified to reflect that it takes a whole community – "parents, schools, community members."

The Grassroots Review is an initiative of Axiom News and several community partners. It replaces peacefulcommunties.ca, but the focus of that site will still be contained within The Grassroots Review, a section and subject area simply called Peaceful Communities. The storytelling approach is Axiom’s key change tool to help organizations meet their objectives.

"Storytelling is cross-cultural," says French.

"Through story, many cultures have traditionally passed on their beliefs and values. We hope to continue this tradition" by being a part of The Grassroots Review initiative, she says.

French says storytelling is also a form of public celebration. "And what better way to weave literacy development -- another key board initiative -- and character development together than through sharing stories with the greater community," she says.

The Grassroots Review is expected to launch by the end of November.

Send this page to a friend

Articles may be reprinted with permission. Contact us at peaceful@axiomnews.ca or 1-800-294-0051