Community Schools are found nationwide, but there are far fewer of them in the South—home to more than one-third of the country’s population. Despite some measurable gains over time, the opportunity gap in southern public schools has widened between many Black, Hispanic, and low-income students and their higher-income and white classmates. Tragically, the South also consistently receives considerably less philanthropic investment than other regions, particularly for initiatives that seek to bring about systemic transformation.  In August 2020, the Foundation made our first grants to support the planning and development of Community Schools in:  Little Rock, Arkansas; East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; and  Jackson, Mississippi.  Each funded community has demonstrated a deep commitment to serve as an exemplar over time, helping to expand the reach of Community Schools throughout the South, both in city and rural settings.