A few inspiring resources that illustrate the power of community and relationships in fostering reflection, agency, learning, and engaged citizenship. Perhaps you have other examples to share at our next session? 

WNC Resilience Project (2026) 

Learn how this project is helping schools in western North Carolina transform crisis into opportunity by placing educators—alongside learners—in the driver's seat. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which profoundly impacted communities across the Asheville region, educators and leaders saw rebuilding as an opportunity to reimagine learning with student well-being at its center. Their work demonstrates that when educators are trusted to lead and learning is grounded in meaningful relationships and real-world relevance, students become more engaged and teachers have greater opportunities to do meaningful work.

Design for Change (2026)

This global movement for change, led by and for children, is driven by a network of passionate community leaders, social entrepreneurs, designers, and educators committed to nurturing the belief that "I can" in every child. Through its Feel, Imagine, Do, Share (FIDS) framework, the movement empowers children with the mindsets and skills to design a more desirable and sustainable future. This site is updated often with new events and resources to explore, including the Innovation Playbook (2024), a collection of inspiring stories that celebrate how children around the world have transformed empathy into action. 

The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
These 17 goals provide a shared global framework for addressing the world's most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030—from reducing poverty and improving health to advancing quality education, equity, climate action, and peace. For educators, the SDGs offer authentic opportunities to engage students in meaningful, inquiry-based learning that connects classroom content to real-world issues while fostering empathy, critical thinking, collaboration, and informed civic action.

UNESCO Literacy Prizes for 2025: Promoting Literacy for A Digital Era

Explore summaries and short videos highlighting the individuals, organizations and institutions worldwide who have demonstrated excellence, innovation and impact in advancing literacy. Many of the projects advance literacy and digital learning through inquiry, collaboration, community-based learning, and family engagement, approaches that closely reflect the core values of URI's Digital Learning Exchange.