By: Wes Davis
On November 22, 2024, Open Way Learning, SparkNC, and Education Reimagined launched the WNC Resilience Project with a collaborative design sprint in Asheville, NC. This initiative builds on the remarkable contributions of students and educators to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, aiming to transform this disaster into a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and healing across Western North Carolina’s schools.
The day brought together a diverse group of educators, community leaders, and thought partners for a six-hour, empathy-driven workshop rooted in the Liberatory Design process. Participants engaged deeply in reimagining schools as hubs of connection and creativity - places where students, educators, and communities collaborate to address challenges and build a brighter future.
“Perhaps the most enduring insight was how disaster relief starts in times of calm: in relationship-driven classrooms, in conversations on the bus, in mentor opportunities, in school cultures of respect and trust.” - The reflections from the day from a WNC educator, highlighting the critical role of relationships in resilience.
Participants worked collectively to develop open-source prototypes integrating storytelling, creative therapies, and innovative credentialing pathways. These tools are designed to be freely adapted for classrooms, aligning academic content with real-world recovery efforts. The session provided a rare and meaningful opportunity for educators, many of whom were directly impacted by the hurricane, to process their experiences and collaborate on actionable solutions.
Key outcomes included the formation of an organic community of practice, practical frameworks for resilience-related projects, and a shared commitment to recognizing students’ real-world learning contributions through innovative credentialing. These early steps laid the foundation for a grassroots coalition of educators, students, and community partners dedicated to leveraging schools as centers of healing, innovation, and community connection.
The work continues with a two-day workshop in January 2025, where participants will build on these prototypes, refine strategies, and expand access to free, adaptable resources for fostering resilience and equity in education. By transforming adversity into opportunity, the WNC Resilience Project seeks to create a sustainable model of recovery and growth that can inspire schools and communities far beyond this region.
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