CENTRAL LAKE, Mich. - s4story -- Communities In Schools of Northwest Michigan (CISNWMI) is kicking off this season of gratitude by celebrating its new partnership with Central Lake Public Schools. On November 25, CIS of Northwest Michigan held a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate their new partnership with the school district.

Currently serving over 1,600 students in Northwest Michigan, CIS surrounds K-12 pupils and families with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve. On a national level, CIS has a bold ambition to grow into every Title I-eligible school in America and to build a stronger system that better supports the 12 million students living in poverty nationwide. The Scaling for Success Initiative, funded by Ballmer Group, supports this mission by granting funding to 56 affiliates nationwide, with Communities In Schools of Northwest Michigan among them. With the support of this funding, CIS of Northwest Michigan expanded services in several schools and established a new partnership with Central Lake Public Schools. CIS of Northwest Michigan is currently established in six school districts: Mancelona, Kalkaska, East Jordan, Ellsworth, Central Lake, and Vanderbilt.

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Amy Burk, CIS of Northwest Michigan Executive Director, is thrilled about the collaboration. "We are connecting Central Lake schools, students, and families to local resources that can improve behavior, attendance, college readiness, and outcomes community-wide. We're invested in the community and our shared goal of empowering students to reach their potential."

Jessica Newton is the Central Lake CIS Site Coordinator. She goes to great lengths to ensure each student has access to guidance and resources to thrive academically and personally.

About Communities in Schools of Northwest Michigan

Communities In Schools® (CIS®) is a national organization that ensures every student, regardless of who they are, their ability, zip code or socioeconomic background, has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond. Working directly inside more than 3,000 schools across the country, we connect students to caring adults and community resources that help them see, confront, and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future. Together, we build a powerful change movement made up of peers, students, and alumni committed to building an equitable path to education for future generations. To learn more, visit cisnwmi.org.