Roanoke City Public Schools opens Community Empowerment Center welcome services to help families enroll students

Corey Alder, director of community engagement for Roanoke City Public Schools, said the district is operating a welcome center at the Community Empowerment Center to help families with student enrollment and related needs. "We have a welcome center that helps families with enrollment services, whether you have 1 child in 1 school or multiple children in all different types of schools," Alder said.

Alder said the center assists families who face barriers such as language difficulties or trouble navigating the school system, and that staff can help make enrollment "a more seamless process." "We're already supporting families with enrollment and getting them some school supplies, connecting young children with preschool appointments," Alder added, saying the support would continue "as we go on through the summer and into the school year."

The presentation framed the center as a first-stop resource for families who need help enrolling one child or multiple children across different school types, and emphasized assistance for non-English speakers and others encountering administrative barriers. Alder characterized the center’s work as both enrollment support and a means to connect families to community resources that ease school transitions.

No formal actions or votes were announced during the remarks. Alder identified the services offered and the center’s role; next steps described were continued outreach and service delivery through the summer and into the upcoming school year.