Connected Community: Reframing Community Partnerships Around College Success at Enlace Chicago

This model capture report examines the College Pipeline Initiative developed by Enlace Chicago's Little Village Education Collaborative (LVEC) to increase college access and success for students in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. The report details how LVEC created a unique community-centered approach focused on three core components: 1) centering and trusting families, 2) aligning supports across systems and student transitions, and 3) leading with data and research. Through programs like Parent Leaders for College and strategic partnerships with schools and higher education institutions, LVEC positioned parents as leaders, fostered collaboration among stakeholders, and leveraged data to drive change. The authors highlight key lessons learned and implications for funders, institutions, community organizations, and others seeking to implement similar equity-focused collective impact models to transform educational outcomes in underserved communities. By documenting LVEC's innovative approach, this report provides valuable insights into how community-based organizations can serve as bridges between families, schools, and institutions to create systemic change in college access and beyond.