CIS Whatcom-Skagit Executive Director Melinda Herrera takes the main stage at CIS Washington’s Better Together Convening.
What does it truly mean to surround a student with a community of support?
At Communities In Schools Whatcom-Skagit (CISWS), this question is at the heart of everything we do. During CIS of Washington’s annual Better Together Convening in Wenatchee, our Executive Director, Melinda Herrera, took the main stage to explore how the foundational principles of our organization can transform not only the lives of students but the communities surrounding them.
Her presentation, Principles in Action, invited fellow CIS professionals to revisit the Five Basics, established by CIS founder Bill Milliken:
- A one-on-one relationship with a caring adult.
- A safe place to learn and grow.
- A healthy start and a healthy future.
- A marketable skill to use upon graduation.
- A chance to give back to peers and community.
Extending Our Principles Beyond Students
While these principles were established to ensure every young person has the resources and relationships needed to thrive, Melinda challenged attendees to consider a broader perspective: What happens when we extend these same principles to the adults, schools, organizations, and communities supporting our students?
Student success doesn’t happen in isolation. Behind every student is a network of educators, families, school staff, and community partners, each navigating their own challenges while working to create opportunities for young people.
Melinda emphasized that if we want students to experience safety, belonging, and meaningful relationships, we must also cultivate those environments for the people supporting them.
A caring adult might be a Site Coordinator supporting a student, a colleague offering encouragement to an overwhelmed teacher, or a supervisor creating space for staff to feel heard and valued.
The Five Basics aren’t simply services we provide. They’re values we can practice in every relationship.
Creating Space for the People Who Show Up Every Day
One particularly meaningful moment of Melinda’s presentation centered on the importance of emotional well-being and authenticity within our own teams.
She shared an experience from CIS Whatcom-Skagit’s summer staff orientation, where team members participated in an activity designed to acknowledge the challenges we all carry.
Staff anonymously wrote down something weighing on them. Together, they acknowledged those experiences before participating in a symbolic release.
The activity reinforced a powerful truth: even the most compassionate, optimistic, and dedicated professionals experience difficult moments.
Creating a supportive workplace doesn’t mean expecting everyone to arrive with a smile every day. It means building a culture where people feel safe enough to be human.
When we extend the same compassion and care to our colleagues that we offer our students, we strengthen the entire community of support.
From Basic Needs to a Sense of Belonging
Melinda also connected the Five Basics to the everyday realities students face.
A student experiencing hunger, housing instability, or other challenges outside the classroom may struggle to focus on learning. Meeting those immediate needs, whether through a warm breakfast, essential supplies, or a welcoming interaction, creates the foundation for greater stability and engagement.
But the work doesn’t end there.
Helping students develop communication skills, explore their interests, prepare for life after graduation, and discover ways to contribute to their communities creates opportunities for lasting success.
Melinda reflected on how becoming more involved in her own community strengthened her sense of connection and pride. She encouraged attendees to consider how we can foster that same investment and belonging among young people.
When students recognize that they have something valuable to contribute, they begin to see themselves not just as members of a community, but as people who can help shape its future.
Better Together, in Every Sense
The Better Together Convening offered an opportunity for CIS professionals from across Washington to connect, learn from one another, and reflect on the shared purpose behind their work.
Melinda’s presentation served as a reminder that the strength of our mission lies not only in the support we provide students, but in the relationships and environments we build around them.
At Communities In Schools of Whatcom-Skagit, we see these principles in action every day through our Site Coordinators, school partners, families, and community supporters.
When we care for the people who care for students, we strengthen the entire network of support.
And when that network is healthy, connected, and empowered, students have an even greater opportunity to thrive.
That is what it means to be Better Together.