Midvale-Lincoln PTO
DSA Award Recipient — Citizen, Single School

We all heard the quote by Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world...". But the parents of the Midvale/Lincoln PTA have experienced it. They are changing their world.

From the time their children were in preschool, misunderstandings have persisted about the paired schools Midvale and Lincoln. This group dedicated themselves to putting old fears to rest.

Early in their work the board held a meeting to address race and culture. They set about reframing and supporting the school, through events, publications, community initiatives and all-important word-of-mouth. They moved away from traditional sales fundraising; they found ways to remove transportation barriers to ensure families from both the neighborhoods could share decision-making and event-organizing responsibilities.

They reached out to their more senior neighbors through an annual pancake breakfast. Providing support to classrooms and teachers became a major goal. With projects such as the Cobb wall and community gardens, they sought to make enriching, shared experiences possible for all students.

All Midvale-Lincoln PTA functions include language translation, childcare and an emphasis on cultural diversity. It is a positive all-for-one-school approach that has been fruitful. Because of this small group of thoughtful, committed citizens, families are sticking with the Midvale-Lincoln pair.

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