Roughly 80 Albuquerque Public Schools principals boarded buses a couple of weeks ago to learn more about community resources that assist struggling families.
The Making Connections Tour – organized by ABC Community School Partnership – hosted administrators from the southwest and southeast sections of Albuquerque, areas with high demand for services.
The two groups took separate buses to visit a handful of locations in their area. The southwest tour’s agenda included First Choice Community Healthcare, Gutierrez-Hubbell House, the Patrick J. Baca Library and Westside Community Center.
At each stop, the principals met with a variety of service providers, including the Boys & Girls Club, APS school gardens, PB&J Family Services and a South Valley law firm.
Truman Middle School principal Michele Torres said she was happy to talk to several dental offices that serve low-income children.
“To make these kinds of connections is really important,” she said. “I’ve been picking up all kinds of information that I will give to my staff to get out to the families.”
The service providers also saw benefits.
Sara Money, director of Money & Me, a financial education training company, would like to bring her program to more schools and the tour allowed her to talk to dozens of principals.
“It’s brilliant,” she said. “Time is so valuable.”
