Social Justice / Awareness / Outreach

For our third and final Community Service Day of the school year, Jonathan arranged a very successful partnership with Roanoke Parks & Recreation.

For our fall Community Service Day students and faculty took to cleaning up the Greenway! They rolled up their sleeves and picked up trash between the Vic Thomas and River’s Edge Parks to help make our Roanoke green space neater and nicer for the next person to enjoy.

The group also had a chance for a Q&A session with Roanoke City Parks and Recreation about volunteering. Afterwards, they hung around the River’s Edge Park for a friendly game of kickball.

For our third and final Community Service Day (CSD) of the school year, CHS partnered with Roanoke Parks & Recreation. Students read and discussed popular and scholarly articles that address the complex history and myriad benefits of public parks. Afterwards, they volunteered at Fishburn Park, Highland Park, Fallon Park, Wasena Park, and the Roanoke River Greenway. There, students stained timber guardrails, collected trash, and painted picnic tables, among so much more. Once they returned to campus, students participated in a Q&A panel discussion with Renee Powers, Roanoke’s Trails and Greenway Coordinator.

CSD organizers Stephanie Martin and Ryan Totaro thank CHS students, faculty, and staff — along with Renee Powers and all Roanoke Parks & Recreation coordinators — for making the day a success!

For Spring Lycée Day, Stephanie, Ryan, and Warren organized a full-school trip to The Harrison Museum of African American Cultures, Inc. (HMAAC)  in downtown Roanoke. The HMAAC is a cultural and educational institution committed to advocating, showcasing, preserving and celebrating the art and history of African Americans for Roanoke Valley citizens and visitors.

Museum administrators Charles and Anita James Price delivered an opening address to students that summarized the history of the museum and stressed the importance of memorializing the past. Students then explored the museum’s galleries and completed a scavenger hunt.

CHS thanks Charles, Anita, and the HMAAC for hosting our students, and for their invaluable contributions to the Roanoke community!

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, CHS students participated in our second Community Service Day of the year. Stephanie Martin and Ryan Totaro organized a day devoted entirely to addressing the problem of homelessness and housing insecurity in America. Students volunteered for the Roanoke Rescue Mission and United Way of Roanoke Valley; read about the history, systemic causes, and criminalization of homelessness; and reflected on different solutions to the homelessness crisis, both in Roanoke and across the country. We were overjoyed to host representatives from the City of Roanoke’s Housing & Urban Development Division, Keith Holland and Hope Browning, for a full school panel discussion. Community High School thanks Keith and Hope, the Roanoke Rescue Mission, and United Way of Roanoke Valley for partnering with our students, faculty, and staff in service of the Roanoke community.

Our Fall Community Service Day covered a lot of ground. Our students took walking tours exploring the area’s non-profit agencies close to campus, many of which we have served as volunteers in the past.

Students and faculty also rolled up their sleeves and side by side cleaned, planted, and freshened up our campus inside and out.

The winner of our Sense of Belonging banner contest was also announced – more details to follow about our submitted designs soon.

After touring the Rescue Mission and learning about the history and services offered, CHS students volunteered their time helping for the afternoon. Some worked in the food pantry, some sorted through donated clothing, and still others helped moved furniture.

Community High will offer a tuition-free independent education for all qualified students of families making under $60,000 a year, starting in the 2022-23 academic year. This will be a permanent move that is funded by donations – and could mean a more diverse student body.