Community Showcase
Students share their work, talents, and voices with an audience from beyond the classroom.
How it runs
Students choose what to share (writing, art, projects, or performances) and take on roles: making invitations, setting up, greeting guests, or emceeing. Guests move through the work and leave written feedback for each student: one thing they noticed, one thing they valued, and a word of encouragement.
It can be your own classroom and a handful of staff, or an evening in a community space. If guests cannot come in, run it on video or as an online gallery people visit on their own time. Travis Hill School in New Orleans and the West Virginia Schools of Diversion and Transition both hold one every year for Youth Justice Action Month.
Why it is worth doing
An outside audience tells students their work is worth someone’s time, and it lets the community meet them as the people they are.
By facilitating a Community Showcase, educators will:
- Provide students with an authentic audience for their work.
- Strengthen community understanding of and investment in young people.
- Build students’ confidence, communication skills, and sense of pride.
- Create a replicable framework for ongoing community engagement.
Teacher note
Remember: a Showcase doesn’t have to be complicated. Even a small, informal gathering where students share work with a handful of staff or peers can have a big impact.