Waterbury Communities of Color

Urban Dynamics Institute help found the Waterbury Communities of Color (WCOC) to duplicate the Communities of Color Initiative serving the poor black and Hispanic communities of color in greater New Haven, Connecticut. The WCOC is working with the Waterbury Department of Education to help reduce the high rates of tardiness, absenteeism, and dropout rates among students in the school system.

The WCOC began working with the Waterbury Department of Education to help reduce the high rate of tardiness, absenteeism and dropout rates among students within the Waterbury school system. Our goal is to get parents, students and school administration involved in a citywide effort to increase attendance at school. One method we are using to spread the word about the importance of staying in school is to provide introductory remarks at the beginning of recreational programs that are currently serving poor and low-income communities of color. The WCOC is also planning to use monthly forums to educate, enlighten and inform communities of color about their efforts to create a better life for the people who live in the communities it serves.

Parents and students will play a vital role in addressing high absenteeism, tardiness and dropout rates. Parents can participate as members of the “School Action Plan,” designed to raise, debate and address important questions with the school board, community leaders and general public. UDI and the WCOC are striving to make poor communities a safe place to live, work and raise children.

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Waterbury Communities of Color