This article was written and published by Aurora Dreger  —  February 10th, 2024

Back in December, the Educating All Learners Alliance hosted our latest Community of Action convening—an in-person event that brought together 40 participants from 22 organizations for two days at the ASU campus in Scottsdale, AZ.

When I joined EALA in 2022, launching this initiative was one of my first big projects. I didn’t know then just how much it would come to define the work I love most. The Community of Action has become a highlight of my role because it allows me to do what I do best—connect people, spark collaboration, and help turn ideas into real impact for students with disabilities and learning differences.

Now, three years in and as the new Director of The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA), I’ve been reflecting on what makes this initiative so special. As we look ahead to what’s next, I want to share why the Community of Action isn’t just another convening—it’s a model for how real change happens.

What is the Community of Action (CoA)?

The Community of Action is exactly what it sounds like—a place where professionals come together to move beyond conversation and into action. Twice a year, the EALA team brings together a diverse group of educators, school leaders, researchers, and advocates to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing students with disabilities and learning differences.

Each phase of our work starts with a virtual session to set the stage, but the real magic happens when we meet in person. Over the course of just 36 hours, participants form teams, develop real solutions, and pitch their ideas to the group. And we don’t just stop there—through participatory grant-making, the community selects one to three ideas for funding on the spot. That means the best ideas don’t just get discussed; they get the support they need to move forward immediately.

At EALA, alongside InnovateEDU, we see ourselves as the connective tissue—the ones making sure the right people are in the room, the conversations are meaningful, and, most importantly, that those conversations lead to real change.

How is Our CoA Different from Other Initiatives?

There are plenty of professional networks and working groups out there. But here’s what sets our CoA apart:

• It’s Built for Action. This isn’t a think tank—it’s a do tank. In just a day and a half, participants go from identifying challenges to designing solutions that are ready for real-world testing.
• Coaching & Facilitation to Amplify Impact – Every convening includes expert coaches with expertise in education, consulting, and grant management who guide participants, help refine ideas, and ensure teams have the support they need to turn challenges into solutions.
• It’s Designed for Collaboration – Using a design-thinking accelerator model, we bring together professionals from education, policy, and advocacy—people who don’t always have the chance to work side by side. This cross-sector collaboration sparks fresh ideas, accelerates innovation, and helps break down the silos that often slow progress.
• It Puts Funding in the Hands of the Community. Through participatory grant-making, the people in the room decide which ideas get funded. That means the best solutions—those designed by the people closest to the work—get the resources they need right away.

The Impact of Our Work

Over the past three years, the Community of Action has done more than generate ideas—we’ve helped turn them into reality. So far, we’ve funded six different projects, each tackling a critical challenge in education:

• We All Learn Differently brought accessible media resources, an educator playbook, and a dedicated day of celebration into real-world pilot schools, ensuring students with disabilities see themselves reflected in learning.
• The AIM Survey equips administrators with data-driven tools to assess and improve mindsets around belonging for students with learning differences.
• Amplifying Excellence put a spotlight on educators leading the way in inclusive career education, sharing their work so others can learn and replicate their success.
• Inclusion Today is building a growing network of educators committed to driving real, systemic change in inclusive practices.

Working on this initiative has been one of the most rewarding parts of my role—and we’re just getting started! Stay tuned for the official announcement of the newest projects funded through the 2024 convening, and for ways to get involved with The Community of Action in 2025.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. What are the biggest challenges you see in supporting students with disabilities and learning differences? Drop a comment or send me a message—let’s keep the conversation (and the action!) going.