Mapping Needs & Assets

Learn about potential partner schools and communities

Whether you are a school or a partner organization, learning about students and their communities is a vital step to planning for partnership. By researching the community’s needs, resources, strengths, history, and culture, school and organization leaders can better understand the context from which students come.

Understanding the goals of the school can help partners assess whether a partnership will be a good fit. Documenting existing resources is important, as this will show what is already working, prevent overlap in services, and assist with identifying gaps.

Use these tip sheets and tools to do background research and prepare for an initial meeting with a potential partner.