The DC360 North Star is grounded in a simple but ambitious vision: that students in the Douglass Cluster of Atlanta Public Schools grow up in communities where strong schools, stable neighborhoods, and economic opportunity reinforce one another. It means ensuring that education, housing, workforce, and community development aren’t siloed efforts, but part of a coordinated ecosystem – one that supports students from cradle to career with real opportunity at every stage.
I’m encouraged by DC360’s transition to the next phase of initiative identification and prioritization with the development of Action Teams. Their goal is to continue refining the DC360 strategy so that, by this summer, a clear, actionable plan is ready for review.
The Important Discussions
Dr. Lawrence Harris, RedefinED’s Executive Fellow leading DC360, has approached continued cross-sector collaboration in alignment with the goals and intentionality outlined in my previous blog. Here are a few examples of the important discussions happening across our community.
Collaborative Meetings
During the Steering Committee Retreat, the team was able to take a step back, reflect on where we are, and ensure we’re aligned on where we’re going. With renewed excitement, Dr. Harris went back out into the community to gain valuable insights on the communities we are working with. For example, participating in the Chattahoochee RiverLands site meeting at Agape led to a new perspective on the history of the surrounding area and the vision for future connectivity and community access along the river.
Conversations at broader events like the Education Leaders of Color Convening are also vital to understanding how national issues like leadership, literacy, and the evolving role of AI in education could impact our local communities.
Strategic Partnerships
Also vital to a strong and collaborative educational ecosystem is developing relationships with key partners in the Douglass Cluster. Dr. Harris met with Shawnell Johnson, PAACT (Promise All Atlanta Children Thrive) Director of GEEARS (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students), to deepen understanding of funding and early childhood access across Metro Atlanta, and with Brian Srikanchana, CEO of Cadet Portfolio International, to explore how their platform could help students track their educational journeys, creating stronger visibility and continuity for student progress.
In an exciting development, Dr. Harris had the opportunity to talk with colleagues from the Yale School of Management, as well as Kennesaw State University’s College of Health & Human Services, who are interested in supporting DC360 by bringing a small team of students and faculty focused on social impact to assist with our work.
Community Voice & Ecosystem Alignment
Ultimately, a supportive ecosystem is built through strong alignment across partners and regions, and with direct input from the community. This is why community voice has become an even bigger priority as we move into the next phase of work.
In addition to regular attendance at the APS Board Meetings, Dr. Harris has been exploring how DC360 can partner with people like Roy Cogdell, Education and Community Engagement Director at the Grove Park Foundation, in meaningfully gathering community voices and input to inform our work.
Conclusion
I’m excited to see how this work will evolve as we prepare for sustained execution, always centering strong schools, stable communities, and real economic opportunity. I’ll leave you with a personal note from Dr. Harris:
I recently revisited a video of Bryan Stevenson speaking about what it takes to change the world. One line that stayed with me was the importance of proximity, staying close to the communities we serve, listening deeply, and allowing that closeness to shape how we lead and act. It was a timely reminder for me in this work.
As we continue building DC360, I want to be intentional about not just designing for the community, but staying deeply connected to it. I’d love for us to keep exploring what that looks like together.