It’s almost spring, bees are buzzing, birds are chirping, and we are all likely Zooming. Can you think of any other season like the one that we are experiencing? This new season, of re-imagining student engagement, re-establishing our professional norms, and re-working practices that we have used for years is a challenging one. As we tackle these challenges, we must remember that the skills we developed as coordinators are always in season.

I joined a GEAR UP team of determined, scrappy, and passionate coordinators in the Spring of 2015. GEAR UP Philadelphia embraced a “do now- apologize later” attitude and tackled our work with practices that I would learn are signature to the GEAR UP Coordinator world.

So, what are these practices and how are they applicable to our current season?

Leaning into Our Diversity. The GEAR UP community is diverse. When the Philly grant kicked off in 2015, our director affectionately named us “G-unit”. The name was birthed out of an icebreaker that helped the team become better acquainted. We were a team of GEAR UP veterans and GEAR UP newbies, which provided some degree of diversity. However, as we grew into a cohesive unit, we learned more about the invaluable experiences that existed amongst the team. We had former social workers, a football coach, a former teacher, folks that had worked in city government, an engineer, health and wellness coaches, and a TRIO alum. Each team member represented a perspective that transformed the way we understood the needs of our schools and communities and the ways that we responded to those needs.

Leaning into the lived experiences of your team can cultivate a new world of engagement and tap a wealth of untouched innovation. What are the lived experiences of your team? How can those experiences, both personal and professional, reframe your current challenges?

Get to Know the Movers and Shakers. One of the first nuggets of advice that I received as a coordinator, was to identify the movers and shakers in the building. The movers and shakers are those people who play a significant role in the daily operations of the school. Of course, I assumed that advice was in reference to administrators. What I realized was that the movers and shakers were the school secretaries, building engineers, teacher leads, and custodial staff. These were the people that passed your paperwork on to administrators for approval, they unlocked classrooms for college readiness activities, they opened the building for Saturday morning SAT prep, and they ensured that students attended programming.  

This same practice is extremely relevant during this time of change. Understanding what keeps a community going and the resources that are available to sustain your work is paramount. Who are the movers and shakers in your community? Where are the resources that can help support your work? How can you leverage those resources?  

Where Can We Get Lunch? Occasionally, Coordinators were asked to host team meetings at one of our school sites. One of the first questions asked by the team was, “Where can I get lunch?” If you could tell a team member where to find the best lunch in your neighborhood, you had their full attention. Amid summer planning, action planning, field trip approvals, contract negotiations, partner meetings, and academic advising, the question on everyone’s mind was the simple concern of lunch. Some of the needs of our students are that simple.

During this pandemic, while taking care of younger siblings, supporting their families, and completing virtual schoolwork our students are still interested in what could be deemed simple concerns. One of those concerns is simply the ability to connect.

From Tik-Tok to Houseparty, our students are maximizing virtual tools as methods for expression and communication. As we seek methods for providing them what they need, how can we use these tools to grab their attention? What specific methods are they using? What are the best ways to connect?

We are operating within a culture of unknowns, but those unknowns are truly invitations for us to repurpose our abilities and knowledge base. The same skills that helped students graduate, families complete FAFSA, and communities to remain engaged can carry us through this season of change.

On February 5^th, 2020 I joined the NCCEP team as the Associate Director of Programs. Once again, I have been greeted by a diverse team of passionate and determined professionals. Once again, I have entered into a new season of growth.