Rhonda Bishara

Communities In Schools®(CIS™) is a national organization operating in more than 2,900 schools nationwide that ensures every student – regardless of race, zip code, or socioeconomic background – has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond. CIS connects students to caring adults and community resources that help them see, confront, and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future. Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CIS-Charlotte) is an affiliate of the national organization, working locally inside 50+ Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CMS) schools. Together, with our CIS affiliates across the country, we are creating a powerful change movement made up of peers, students, and alumni committed to building an equitable path to education for future generations. OUR MISSION is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. WE ENVISION a community where every child and family thrives and is positioned for positive economic mobility. WE BELIEVE that transformative relationships are key to unlocking a student’s potential. We will succeed by including in our strategies, ingraining in our culture, and reflecting in our behaviors, principles and practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a result, we break down immediate and systemic barriers to create and sustain equitable outcomes.