Did you know that the NYC Department of Education is opening several new school buildings in the Sunset Park area of District 15? Are you interested in learning more about the schooling experiences and needs in our area and making recommendations about what should happen with SP schools?

Sunset Park community members will carry out a participatory action research project beginning in Spring 2022.

This process aims to build a deeper understanding of what equitable schooling could look like in our communities. A team of local members, who will be directly impacted by changes in our Sunset Park Schools, will carry out the work. We call this group of community researchers: the D15 Sunset PAR Team. If you are interested in being involved – please reach out! district15parproject.org

The Sunset Park PAR Team will work together to figure out what we need to ask our neighbors to find out what community experiences and perspectives are on schooling and how best to support equitable and thriving schools. The PAR team is a group of local community members who will meet for 1 – 5 hours a week to:

• create community
• discuss and think through the biggest questions facing our community
• research history of schools and schools zones
• be trained in research methods and ethics
• carry out research (like interviews, surveys, focus groups) at laundromats, playgrounds, church groups, community centers, and other places
• study and analyze Dept of Education data
• compile and analyze community knowledge + DOE data
• use creative approaches, like art projects
• share back what we find via community forums
• produce recommendations to inform DOE policy

This is a project conducted by community members, with community members, and for our communities. The recommendations from the PAR team will shape the Department of Education’s plan for the future of schools in Sunset Park. The goal is an equitable education and thriving schools for all children in Sunset Park.

This participatory process will center families impacted by the school changes and particularly families from historically excluded communities.

Community members who are part of the D15 Sunset PAR Team do NOT need to have any prior experience in any of these areas, or in writing or public speaking, and you do NOT need to be a U.S. citizen. Community researchers will receive a stipend for their participation.

The D15 Sunset PAR Team launched Feb 2020 and meetings take place once/week. The PAR team of community researchers will be asked to commit approximately 5 hours/week between Feb – June (and possibly beyond) on the project.

Please Note: If you’re interested in being involved there are multiple ways to participate – we need you! Please reach out to let us know you’re interested: district15parproject.org