FCAN Celebrates the Power of Collective Learning
FCAN recently wrapped up its year-long Community of Practice (CoP) series with 12 Local College Access Network (LCAN) teams across the state. This innovative program, designed to address common challenges in college access and success, is a testament to the power of collective learning and action.
“I’m struck by the incredible dedication and innovation of our LCAN teams across Florida,” said Kim Krupa, PhD, FCAN’s lead for network development and engagement. “Witnessing the growth in each community, the sharing of ideas, and the collective drive to improve college access has been truly inspiring.”
The series included 24 learning sessions, bringing together experts and practitioners from various sectors. From August 2023 to June 2024, the virtual gatherings served as a hub of knowledge sharing, strategic planning, and collaborative problem-solving.
Key Highlights of Our CoP Series:
- Targeted Support: FCAN launched four distinct Communities of Practice, each tailored to meet the specific needs of our LCAN teams. These included learning groups for new LCANs, a learning group focused improving data analysis capacity, and a learning group offering tailored guidance for LCAN teams at different stages of development.
- Statewide Engagement: With 12 active local college access networks participating the program experienced wide representation from a diverse range of districts, higher education institutions, civic groups, and community-based organizations across Florida.
- Innovative Tools and Methodologies: Participants were introduced to cutting-edge resources such as Results Count™, FOCUS-PDSA social change model, and human-centered design approaches.
- Data-Driven Strategies: Our Data Community of Practice empowered LCANs to conduct thorough population analyses, identify target populations, and develop systems-level strategies to improve student outcomes.
- Action-Oriented Learning: The Action CoP has guided our most advanced LCAN teams in refining their strategies, reflecting on results, and creating plans for scaling effective practices.
“This past year’s Community of Practice series was effectively a learning journey where each LCAN team was able to develop competency in creating, refining, and sustaining targeted, layered, and evidence-based programs,” said Dr. Krupa. “Each team expressed a commitment to active learning and collective ownership, with each member contributing to and benefiting from the shared wisdom of the group.”
“This work reinforces FCAN’s belief in the power of collaboration and the profound impact we can have as a state when we work together toward a common goal,” said Braulio Colón, Executive Director, Florida College Access Network. “As we move this important work forward, I’m more confident than ever in our ability to create meaningful change for Florida’s students,” Colón said.
As the series concludes, FCAN celebrates a new chapter in Florida’s college access and success landscape. The strategies developed, the connections forged, and the insights gained will continue to shape FCAN’s work for years to come.
From Pensacola to Miami, FCAN thanks all participants for their dedication throughout this learning series. These efforts significantly advanced our shared goal of a Talent Strong Florida.
In the coming year, FCAN will document the implementation of strategies developed during this program, showcasing each LCAN’s progress and the tangible impacts of our collective work.
“The commitment from our participants and partners has been instrumental in the initiative’s success,” said Colón. “We’re confident our collaborative efforts will yield positive outcomes for Florida’s students, and we look forward to building on this momentum to enhance college access and success across our state.”