At the Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA), real change in education happens when those closest to the challenges are the ones driving the solutions. That’s the foundation of our Community of Action—a space where organizations come together to design, iterate, and build projects that directly support students with disabilities and learning differences. Through a participatory grant-making process, community members award $150,0000 for change in local communities.

Earlier this year, we saw this model in action. Over just 36 hours, participants from 22 mission-aligned organizations formed six cross-sector teams to co-create solutions to some of the most persistent barriers facing students today. At the end of this fast-paced convening, participants didn’t just share their ideas—they voted on which projects should receive funding. This participatory process led to the selection of two standout projects, each receiving $75,000 to bring their visions to life.

The awarded projects speak to the power of collaboration and bold thinking:

• The Youth Action Project, led by LiberatED , Ethos Admissions , the International Youth Foundation , Social Optics , The Transition Academy , and Getting Smart , puts students at the center—creating pathways for young people to take the lead in designing learning environments that truly work for them.
• The Transformative Engagement Alliance/Alianza para el Compromiso Transformador, a partnership between the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) , the Parent-Leadership Team of Nevada, and MindshiftED Parent Institute, is focused on building stronger relationships between families and schools, making it easier for parents and caregivers to shape the learning experience of their students meaningfully.

What makes these projects exceptional isn’t just their ideas—it’s how they were built: collaboratively with user-centered design, quick iteration , and with a clear focus on the challenges learners face every day.

As Project Director, I’ve had the privilege of watching this community come alive—organizations sharing tools, experiences, and approaches that move us beyond talk and into action. We’re proud to help fund solutions that aren’t just promising, but deeply grounded in the needs of real students, families, and educators.  Communities of action model a distinct form of collaboration by uniting organizations and individuals around a shared commitment to achieving tangible change and addressing specific issues. Unlike traditional collaborations that might focus on shared learning or best practices, communities of action prioritize collective effort and coordinated action to create real-world impact.

We at EALA are grateful to the Gates Foundation and the Oak Foundation for their support of this community-powered innovation model. Our collaborative approach, where leadership is entrusted to those doing the work, reveals new possibilities. We are collectively demonstrating the power of distributed decision-making and faith in the leadership of those on the front lines.

To learn more about the Community of Action and how you can be part of it, visit: https://educatingalllearners.org/community-of-action