Growing Strong Partnerships: Prairie View Hosts Family Engagement Consortium at the Northwest Houston Center
On April 2, 2025, the Prairie View Northwest Houston Center proudly hosted the Family Engagement Consortium, a vibrant gathering of family engagement leaders, parents, educators, and community stakeholders, all united by the theme: “Growing Strong Partnerships.”
Designed to cultivate collaboration and ignite innovation, the consortium offered a rich platform for dialogue, inspiration, and shared commitment. The morning began with a welcoming networking breakfast, setting a warm, collegial tone and laying the groundwork for meaningful exchanges. It then highlighted the Collegiate Dance Company, directed by Professor Sherry Harper. The exquisite moves of Briara Dorshea King, President of the Classic Dance Ensemble, proved that “Excellence lives…” on the Hill at Prairie View A&M University.
A highlight of the event was the powerful keynote address delivered by Cecily Darden, former Assistant Secretary for Family Outreach and Engagement at the U.S. Department of Education. Drawing a compelling analogy, she compared family-school partnerships to trees enduring turbulent winds—emphasizing that with deep, well-nourished roots, these partnerships can withstand even the most uncertain climates. Her message underscored the enduring power of collaboration and resilience in the face of adversity.
Complementing Darden’s message, Shannon Lang, State Coordinator for the Family/Parent Initiative, offered a second keynote that deepened the metaphor. She described how the roots of a tree, even when unseen, can carry fire underground—a symbol of how passion for family engagement and literacy can ignite movements of change. Lang shared her team’s ongoing exploration into Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs), aiming to better equip pre-service teachers with the tools and mindset to build lasting partnerships with families.
One of the most interactive portions of the event was the Challenges & Solutions Roundtable, where attendees identified key barriers to family engagement and engaged in collaborative brainstorming. The insights gathered during this session will shape the foundation for the next consortium meeting, scheduled for mid-September, where relevant research and evidence-based strategies will be shared in response to the challenges identified.
The event concluded with an Action Planning Session, where participants outlined collective goals and defined actionable steps to sustain momentum and deepen their collaborative efforts throughout the year.
This impactful event was made possible through the leadership and vision of Dr. Kamala Williams, Director of the Northwest Houston Center, and Dr. La’Shonte Williams, with vital support from Dr. Camile Gibson, Interim Dean of the Office of Graduate Studies. It was skillfully organized by Johnnie L. Brown, Educational Leadership Doctoral Intern, whose dedication brought together voices from across districts, universities, and community agencies. The event was a resounding step forward in uniting family engagement leaders from surrounding districts, universities and community agencies in a common mission: to support student success through growing strong partnerships.