The Community Voice Circles are a practice created by the Anaheim Union High School District to connect families to the school and strengthen relationships. The program encourages families to meet in groups with FACES at the school to share their perspectives and thoughts on school and community issues. 

In these, the FACES meet with families in a designated classroom inside the school for community engagement. The district also conducts surveys on issues families may be having with the school and the community. These voice circles provide a way for parents and FACES to connect more deeply and meaningfully with the families in their communities. 

A major focus of this practice is giving families a seat at the table when concerns and solutions are discussed. Through these community voice circles, parents were able to use their voices and perspectives in a safe environment. FACES gaining this deeper understanding helps create solutions that better fit the school and community's needs, while keeping families' perspectives and thoughts in mind. 

 The core of this approach is equity. Connection is the key to student success, not socioeconomic level. It also leverages community assets by offering excellent translation services in Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese. Community Voice Circles help schools collect “street data” by gathering the lived experience of families. This is done by giving each member an equal voice with a talking stick. Meeting families where they are at is critical in this setting, as it bridges the gap in the relationship between parents and educators and cultivates healthy communication to better understand the student's needs.

For districts looking to replicate this practice, start by administering interest forms to family and community members about school- and student-centered concerns and comments they may have about their child. Begin by getting to know parents during drop-off and pick-up to foster a relationship. Once families are willing to meet to discuss, center the conversation around their thoughts and perspectives. From there, continue to care about and foster relationships with families.

Summary written by: Kathryn Lyytikainen, Eduardo Martinez Molina, and Madeline Sweeny (April 2026)