by Eric Leckman
Collective Impact Intern
A few weeks ago, I was invited along with a few others to take a tour of the Community Learning Center located at Oquirrh Hills Elementary School. As an intern at United Way of Salt Lake, I have been reading a lot about the Collective Impact work that United Way does through their Community Learning Centers, however, it was nothing compared to being able to see it in action. I was shocked to see the great amount of progress this particular CLC had made while only being open for a few years. They had already set up programs to help offer ESL for both students and parents. There were also fitness and exercise programs being put into place for student’s afterschool. The collaboration that really blew me away was their work with local health clinics to make sure that students registering for kindergarten could get their immunizations and checkups all at the school– as opposed to having the families do it on their own. I can’t imagine the amount of relief that gave to families (and administration alike) to have those resources right at their fingertips.
Oquirrh Hills is a perfect example of how Collective Impact really can make a significant difference for all people involved in a community–it’s simply a matter of determined people coming together to make life better for others in our neighborhoods.
