What is Big Picture’s role as the convening organization of AHSI?

Each organization that participates in AHSI provides and gains support from the other organizations through a variety of venues and mediums coordinated by The Big Picture Company.

Big Picture’s work with youth development organizations furthers its mission to change local and national conversations around education while supporting a broad network of practitioners who can learn from each other. Big Picture strives to be a convener of an effective, sustainable learning community. As convener of AHSI, Big Picture:

• hosts semi-annual national conferences
• influences the network through its own innovative practices of school start up
• conducts monthly intermediary teleconference workshops
• develops capacity building tools for organizations and schools
• makes regular site visits to member schools to provide technical assistance and constructive feedback
• serves as an internal and external network communications clearinghouse for innovative programs and policies generated by the member groups of the initiative as well as the initiative itself

The Big Picture Company works closely with the National League of Cities to develop the content of AHSI convenings and to guide the evolution of the network.