The Leopold Area Resource Coalition - LARC - was established at Leopold Elementary School over 12 years ago. This coalition is a wonderful example of people helping people and stakeholders embracing a village to build a successful community.

Arlene Silveira, founding LARC member and current MMSD Board of Education President, states, "In today's society it is necessary for the whole community to come together to support our families and our children. LARC understood this many years ago and is truly a success story on how community services can work with schools to make a difference in the life of a child".

LARC meets monthly and currently consists of over 40 participants who represent the school and local community. Examples include Leopold School, MMSD, GHC, city fire/police, Joining Forces for Families (JFF), Even Start, Family Enhancement, and the Leopold Neighborhood Association.

Ron Chance, JFF Community Program Manager, says "LARC is a perfect example of local stakeholders coming together to mobilize resources to the benefit of the community".

LARC has led the way for various initiatives.

• A new JFF worker has been hired and a new JFF office site has been established within the Leopold community.
• Family Enhancement, the SOL Grant, and the MMSD Play and Learn Program are now serving Leopold families.
• GHC has adopted Leopold Elementary and is now providing free health care to Leopold students in need. Emily Lewis, Community Care Manager for GHC, says that "LARC is an important vehicle to bring together important stakeholders, including area leaders, school representatives and parents."

LARC has also had a positive impact on the City of Fitchburg. According to Mayor Tom Clauder, "LARC has been working with the City of Fitchburg for the past eight years and has been very instrumental in helping us connect with the Leopold community. As a result, FACE (Fitchburg Area Community Network) was established to broaden community support to include local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce."

The Leopold community holds great promise because of LARC.

If you would like to learn more about LARC or how to begin a similar coalition within your school community, please contact Mary Manthey, LARC facilitator, at mmanthey@madison.k12.wi.us.

The MMSD Play and Learn program recently began serving Leopold School families with children ages 0-5. According to Nicole Woodworth and Rissel Sanderson, Play and Learn group leaders, “LARC connected us with the Fairways Apartment complex and helped tremendously with the launch of our program here."

Attending the grand opening of the new Joining Forces for Families office in Fitchburg on February 20, 2008 were (from left) Ruth Ruiz, JFF social worker, Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive, Robin Murphy, community support specialist, Kari Stevens, social worker intern, Ron Chance, JFF director, Mary Manthey, LARC coordinator, and Arlene Silveira, President of the MMSD Board of Education. Photo courtesy of Fitchburg Star.

Through LARC, the SOL Mentor Program has been holding monthly Family/Mentor Gatherings at the Fairways Apts. Community Room for the past two years, and has also held training sessions and community service projects there as well.

Related MMSD Links

• History of LARC