Live It Learn It

Live It Learn It (LILI) envisions a day when all learners feel empowered and motivated to engage with the world. We work alongside students, educators, and community partners to build meaningful connections between students in Washington, DCs Title I schools and the museums, landmarks, and historic sites that reflect the richness of their city. We recognize that due to systemic inequities, students in under-resourced communities have had unequal access to out-of-classroom learning opportunities that deepen academic engagement and foster a sense of belonging. In partnership with schools and cultural institutions, we expand access to immersive, place-based learning experiences that connect students to their communities and make classroom learning more relevant. Live It Learn It served approximately 1,809 DC students during the 202425 school year. Since 2005, LILI has served more than 28,000 2nd5th grade students and their teachers in Washington, DCs Title I schools through experiential learning that connects students with local historical, cultural, and environmental sites. Our model centers on facilitating thoughtfully designed field experiences that are directly connected to classroom learning. Teachers select from a menu of options to best support their curriculum and respond to their students strengths and interests. Each grade levels options include units in the arts, humanities, and STEM, developed in collaboration with educators and partners and aligned with DCPS curriculum. In FY25, Live It Learn It piloted Bridge the Gap, a DC Council-funded initiative designed to deepen partnerships with schools and respond more directly to priorities identified by educators and students. Through this pilot, LILI collaborated with school communities to co-design experiential programming that integrates sustained, in-class learning with field-based experiences. Bridge the Gap expands access to experiential learning while strengthening continuity between classroom instruction and out-of-school opportunities, with a focus on fostering belonging, reinforcing academic skills, and building meaningful connections to students communities. Early implementation has provided valuable insights into how more sustained and responsive programming can support student learning and engagement, and these learnings will inform future program development and potential expansion. Through these experiences, students build background knowledge, strengthen confidence as learners, and deepen their sense of belonging within the broader DC community. Our approach is designed to be accessible and engaging for all students, regardless of prior knowledge, language background, or reading level. Our program demonstrates impact on students literacy development and self-efficacy, while supporting meaningful connections to place during a critical phase of child development. Approximately 91% of our students are Black and Brown. More than 60% attend schools east of the Anacostia River. Our partner schools in Wards 1 and 4 serve large numbers of students (4053% of the school population) who are classified as English Language Learners. In Washington, DC, schools and cultural institutions recognize LILI as a trusted partner in experiential learning. Our model is designed to support meaningful engagement with cultural spaces and encourage continued exploration; after participating in a LILI experience, 83% of students report wanting to return to the site, and 90% express interest in learning more about the subject they explored.