Oakman students passing by stop to give Zahra Makkawi smiles, questions and a few hugs, helping ease her nerves, at least a little.
It is mid September 2025, and Ms. Makkawi is about to be interviewed by a film crew from the national Communities in Schools (CIS). In August, she received an All In for Students Award from the national organization.
“I am humbled. I owe it to the Communities in Schools team. They believed in me, and supported me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” Ms. Makkawi said.
Communities in Schools-Michigan has contracts to work in 62 schools in the state, including 24 in Dearborn Public Schools, said CIS Michigan Program Director Patrice Wright.
“Our mission is to surround students with supports to help them succeed in school and in life,” she said. CIS provides some group programming for students, but site coordinators also work individually with students to meet their needs. Those needs can include anything from helping the family find food pantries and clothing, teaching students better coping mechanisms when their emotions lead to bad behavior, and even connecting families to tutoring or academic support.
“Overall, we are here to be a resource for students,” Ms. Wright said.
CIS tries to hire site coordinators for each school that are already connected in the community.
Ms. Makkawi’s children attend Oakman, and she was active in the PTA. Her work background is in human resources and safety. But she noted in her eighth grade yearbook, they asked students what they saw themselves doing in 10 years, and she said, “Working in a school.”
“Zahra is awesome. Zahra is empathetic, and she is caring,” Ms. Wright said. She noted that Ms. Makkawi doesn’t just help students at school, but she will show up after school at athletic events and other activities to support the students.
In announcing the award, CIS said Ms. Makkawi “helps students overcome personal challenges, improve academic performance and build confidence by providing consistent support and guidance.”
They lauded her for expanding the food pantry; growing the back-to-school night; providing food, hygiene, clothing and school supplies to students; and offering after school tutoring to the students in her caseload.
The video featuring Ms. Makkawi is expected to be released later in 2025.
Ms. Makkawi said she was born in Lebanon and came to the United States when she was 10, first moving to Texas. When she is working with students, who may themselves be immigrants, she points to her struggles and her success.
She sees CIS as a tool to help students overcome obstacles and succeed.
“I believe in our mission and what we stand for,” Ms. Makkawi said.