Boston Community Hub Schools Boston Community Hub Schools

Boston Community Hub Schools

Our Communities, Our Schools, Our Voices

WHAT ARE COMMUNITY HUB SCHOOLS?

Boston Community Hub Schools is a long-term strategy to actively engage the resources of each community around student and family success. In a Boston Community Hub School, the school community intentionally looks at its assets (the great things that are happening) and opportunities (the things they want to improve) to take action to make their school-community the best it can be. Along with Career and Technical Education and STEM, the Community Hub School strategy has been identified as vital to the education of Boston’s children, and to the future of Boston as a whole.

Boston Community Hub Schools Logo

community hub school stats

With the support of a dedicated Hub School Coordinator, each school-community —students, families, educators, and local partners — invests in the six key practices of community schools:

Rigorous, community-connected classroom instruction
Teaching and learning in the school integrates high-quality instruction with rigorous content and real-world relevance that reflects students’ experiences, identities, the local community, and the world. The curriculum is standards-based and supports students to engage in meaningful inquiry-based learning and problem-solving.

Powerful student and family engagement
Families and students actively participate in the school’s decision-making. They are partners in setting goals and shaping the school’s culture, policies, and programs through strong partnerships. Schools become hubs providing opportunities for adults and young people.

Expanded and enriched learning opportunities
Before- and after-school, weekend, summer, and extended-day programs provide expanded time and enriched learning experiences. These opportunities are aligned with classroom instruction, connect to enrichment and cultural activities, and individualized support.

Culture of belonging, safety, and care
School staff work with students, families, and peers to foster a safe and welcoming place. Each person in the school community finds value in a rich diversity of experiences and feels encouraged to share their own views, knowledge, and culture.

Integrated systems of support
To foster well-being and a healthy learning environment, a dedicated team of school staff and community partners employ a systematic, data-based approach to services, supports, and opportunities.

Collaborative leadership, shared power and voice
Families, students, teachers, principals, and community partners co-lead work and professional learning. They share data and make decisions together through formal structures and through more informal engagement.

In Boston, we are centering our implementation around the Community Schools Forward framework developed by the Brookings Institute, National Center for Community Schools, Coalition for Community Schools, and IEL. This model builds on the four pillars of community schools and adds a direct connection to academic learning and SEL, two priority areas for BPS.

“This strategy allows the culture of the community to live and breathe throughout the academic setting, and throughout the lives of our children.”
Utilizing the inherent resources, talents and cultural wealth of the surrounding community and working alongside school leaders, students, families and other community stakeholders, the YMCA operates in several Community Hub Schools throughout Boston, where an on-site YMCA Community Hub School Coordinator facilitates fundamental support for students which enables them to do what they came to school for in the first place — to learn.

Locations

Gardner Pilot Academy
30 Athol St, Allston, MA 02134
Ariana Fusco

Haynes Early Education Center
263 Blue Hill Ave, Roxbury, MA 02119
Tory Perry-Tsaku | 857-753-1627

Jeremiah E. Burke High School
60 Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02121
Michaiah Lopez

Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School
270 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA 02121
Jessica Senat | 857-753-1641

Martin Luther King Jr. K-8 School
77 Lawrence Ave, Dorchester, MA 02121
Gee Gee Bishop

William Monroe Trotter School
135 Humboldt Ave, Dorchester, MA 02121
Danielle Lennox-Heichman | 857-753-1581

Boston Community Hub Schools is guided by a collaborative of key local organizations:

Contact

For more information on how you or your organization can get involved with Community Schools, please contact:

Joanne Gomes
Senior Director of Boston Community Hub Schools
JGomes@ymcaboston.org

Claire Kaiser
Senior Director of Academic Integration and Partner Development
CKaiser@ymcaboston.org

Or complete the form below:

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GROUP FITNESS CLASSES

Group Exercise

Explore all the fitness classes and reserve a space by logging into Motionvibe. Get your blood pumping with classes like HIIT and Zumba or tap into your mindfulness with yoga, Barre or Pilates.

WATER FITNESS

Water Fitness classes are an excellent choice to give your heart and muscles a great workout. The Y offers a range of Water Fitness classes, find the perfect one for you by logging into Motionvibe!

Programs
Locations
Adult Pickleball

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong and is also fun, social, and friendly.

Parkway Community
Youth Sports
5-10 weeks

YMCA youth sports programs give kids the opportunity to learn and grow through a variety of exciting activities, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics. With experienced coaches and a focus on teamwork, sportsmanship, and fun, your child will develop athletic skills and confidence in a supportive, inclusive environment. Sign up today and let them thrive through the joy of sports at the Y!

Burbank
Charles River
Dorchester
Huntington
North Suburban
Oak Square
Parkway Community
Roxbury
Thomas M. Menino
Waltham
Wang
Youth Swim Lessons
5-10 weeks

YMCA swim lessons for youth ages 6-12 provide a safe, fun, and engaging environment where kids build confidence in the water while learning essential swimming and water safety skills. Guided by trained instructors, participants progress through six swimming stages, focusing on techniques such as floating, stroke development, and endurance, all while fostering a love for swimming and lifelong water safety awareness.

Burbank
Charles River
Charlestown
Dorchester
Huntington
North Suburban
Oak Square
Parkway Community
Roxbury
Thomas M. Menino
Waltham
Wang

GROUP FITNESS CLASSES

Group Exercise

Explore all the fitness classes and reserve a space by logging into Motionvibe. Get your blood pumping with classes like HIIT and Zumba or tap into your mindfulness with yoga, Barre or Pilates.

WATER FITNESS

Water Fitness classes are an excellent choice to give your heart and muscles a great workout. The Y offers a range of Water Fitness classes, find the perfect one for you by logging into Motionvibe!

Programs
Locations
Adult Pickleball

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong and is also fun, social, and friendly.

Parkway Community
Youth Sports
5-10 weeks

YMCA youth sports programs give kids the opportunity to learn and grow through a variety of exciting activities, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics. With experienced coaches and a focus on teamwork, sportsmanship, and fun, your child will develop athletic skills and confidence in a supportive, inclusive environment. Sign up today and let them thrive through the joy of sports at the Y!

Burbank
Charles River
Dorchester
Huntington
North Suburban
Oak Square
Parkway Community
Roxbury
Thomas M. Menino
Waltham
Wang
Youth Swim Lessons
5-10 weeks

YMCA swim lessons for youth ages 6-12 provide a safe, fun, and engaging environment where kids build confidence in the water while learning essential swimming and water safety skills. Guided by trained instructors, participants progress through six swimming stages, focusing on techniques such as floating, stroke development, and endurance, all while fostering a love for swimming and lifelong water safety awareness.

Burbank
Charles River
Charlestown
Dorchester
Huntington
North Suburban
Oak Square
Parkway Community
Roxbury
Thomas M. Menino
Waltham
Wang