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Our History

Development of the Collaborate PASadena Initiative

Before 2013

  • A number of efforts that highlight the strength and benefits of collaboration are underway

  • Examples include the Community Schools Initiative by PUSD, the Invest in PUSD Kids program, and the Parent Education Network (PEN)

  • Kahlenberg “One Pasadena” Report is presented (2006)

  • Best practice collaboration research is conducted

  • Shared vision for partnership is developed by the City and PUSD

2013

  • School/City/Community Work Plan is adopted by the City of Pasadena and PUSD in order to foster 21st Century skills to improve student outcomes

2014

  • Initiative’s governance structure is defined by PUSD/City Council ad hoc committee

    • Leadership Council (governing body)

    • Work Groups in four priority areas

  • Shared vision, mission, and objectives are established

  • USC Capstone Project is completed (phase 1)

  • YMCA partnership for 40 Developmental Assets Survey

  • Youth Empowerment Service (YES) Grants

  • Coordination and alignment with family and youth initiatives

    • City of Pasadena Early Learning Policy

    • Peoria Place

    • Youth Master Plan

    • PUSD Career Pathways

2015

  • Leadership Council members are identified

    • ​Fall 2015 full Council begins governing

  • Parent Engagement Work Group (fifth priority area) is established

  • Parameters of measuring success are analyzed

  • Work Groups meet collectively to work on goals and objectives

  • Collaboration and coordination for asset mapping, and communication (GroupSite)

  • Next phase design undertaken with professional consultant team

2016

  • First measurable goal is identified (3rd grade reading proficiency)

    • Alignment with Reading Partners program

    • Altadena community volunteer recruitment effort

    • Walk to Read established

    • Read Across Pasadena and Realtors Initiative

    • Second Grade Book Drive

  • Work Groups expand and organize around outcome goals

  • USC Capstone Project is completed (phase 2)

  • Organizational Home search is completed; Flintridge Center named

  • Director search is conducted

2017

  • Full-time Director begins

  • Marketing and communication efforts are expanded

    • Formal presentations to myriad local service clubs and educational groups

    • The Amplifier monthly e-newsletter launches

    • Website and social media presence are established

    • Database of constituents is grown from 250-700+

  • Work Groups refine short- and long-range priorities and plans

    • Parent Engagement effort partners with Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Parent Leaders Group

    • Healthy Families Work Group re-focuses on PUSD support

    • Supportive Communities Work Group holds neighborhood clean-up, builds strategy for neighborhood associations, and recommends adoption of neighborhood leadership training toward building capacity to collaborate

  • Community Service Hub work is explored

  • Innovation in Collaboration event held in April (“Mix and Mingle”)

  • Youth Leadership Network developed, and first annual Youth Leadership Conference held in August

  • Neighborhood Summit focused on learning and sharing best practices held in September

  • Launch of Pasadena as an Early Learning City by 2025 held in September

  • Collaborate PASadena Neighborhood Leadership Institute offers 10-week grassroots training for community members

  • "Mentor Pasadena" is supported with building partnerships toward growing mentoring efforts in the Pasadena area

  • Reading initiative continues with Walk to Read, Reading Partners, Read Across Pasadena and Second Grade Book Drive

  • Year-end Celebration of Collaboration focused on partner accomplishments of 2017 held in December

2018

  • Community Forums on Neighborhoods held in February and March​

  • Neighborhood Summit focusing on celebrating and bridging communities held in April

  • Reading initiative continues with Realtors Read Across Pasadena in March

  • LCAP Community Conversation held in May

  • Second annual Youth Leadership Conference, LevelUP2, held in July

  • Collaborate PASadena moves to Pacific Oaks College's Center for Community and Social Impact​

2019

  • Office of the Young Child launces Hub Network of sites to serve families of Children 0-5

  • First State of the Youth is held at Muir High School in February

  • Third annual Youth Leadership Conference, LevelUP3, held in July 

  • African American Parent Council's Math Power Hour initiative launches

  • PUSD / Community convening on student voice and choice

  • CalSchools Parent Survey outreach campaign

  • Improved Attendance Initiative - celebrating students who have improved on past chronic absences

  • Second State of the Youth is held at PHS in October

  • Rose City High School Research Engagement Project

  • Student Success Work Group works with Rose City High School on the students Senior Defenses

  • Third annual Youth Leadership Conference, LevelUP3, held in July at Pacific Oaks

  • Growing Together PASadena (previously know as the Hub Network) grand launch celebration in November

2020

  • Community outreach for Census 2020

  • Stars Community Summit - Stopping the School-to-Prison Pipeline

  • PHS & Community collaborative home visits for students at risk

  • COVID-19 pandemic changes the landscape and focus of... everything

  • Our Mission revised in response systemic inequities in our community, made clear by the disproportionate impact of the pandemic.

  • Collaborate PASadena provides online meeting hosting for community and parent organizations 

  • Collaborate PASadena hosts PUSD community forums on distance learning and the re-opening of schools

  • Student Success Work Group to focus on student engagement and agency 

  • Fourth annual Youth Leadership Conference, LevelUP4, held virtually over two weeks in July

  • Collaborate PASadena, Stars, PACTL, Young & Healthy and Tournament of Roses collaborate to deliver meals during pandemic

2021

  • Gender Nation donates 14 sets of inclusive books to PUSD for every elementary school library

  • We continue meal delivery until the start of the 2021-22 academic year 

    • A total of 68,400 meals for 410 families​

    • 2,310 volunteer hours

  • Fifth annual Youth Leadership Conference, LevelUP5, held virtually over two weeks in July

  • We publish our COVID Impact Report

  • Collaborate PASadena becomes Lead Partner for PUSD Community Schools initiative

  • Collaborate PASadena continues to host online meetings for community and parent organizations 

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