Dept of Ed Awards $2.5 Million to Lewis University Community Schools Consortium, Fairmont, VVSD Partnership
Published: January 23, 2023.
The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded a five-year grant of $2,495,985 to the Lewis University Community School Consortium. This Full-Service Community Schools grant will bring together Lewis University, partnering school districts, and over 20 community partner agencies to provide holistic wraparound services to local students and families in trauma-responsive and culturally relevant ways.
LUCSC is a collaborative project with Lewis University in Romeoville, Valley View School District 365U in Bolingbrook and Romeoville, and Fairmont School District 89 by Lockport, along with numerous local community entities. The project uses a holistic, university-assisted approach to expand and strengthen trauma-responsive and restorative culture and climate within partner schools to work toward educational, social, health, and economic equity for students and their families.
The is expected to transform all aspects of the educational environment—from teacher and staff training to meaningful engagement with students and families, to enhanced procedures and policies. LUCSC partners will form a cohesive and systemic network that will work toward building trauma-responsive and restorative practices and culture within three targeted community schools: Brooks Middle School (grades 6-8), Bolingbrook High School (grades 9-12), and Fairmont School (grades PreK-8). It’s estimated that close to 4,300 students, 90 percent of students at these three schools will be impacted within the five years of this program.
Dr. Emily Shayman, LUCSC Director, Dr. Joanna Maravilla, Co-Director, and Laura Wilmarth Tyna, Co-Director, will lead the university-wide effort of faculty and staff from numerous departments and colleges. Internal university partners include the Office of Community Engaged Learning (OCEL), Gros Institute, Center for Community Research and Education (CCRE), College of Education and Social Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of Aviation, Science and Technology.
Lewis University is an innovative Catholic university offering market-relevant undergraduate and graduate programs to 6,500 students. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis University is nationally recognized for preparing intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, and globally-connected graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.
