Real stories. Real people. Real impact.

Every story can spark community impact.

The Living Library connects Hampton City Schools eighth-grade students with community professionals whose experiences help them investigate local challenges, explore future pathways, and launch their Capstone research.

1400+Eighth graders
4Event days
2Daily sessions
01ListenReal journeys
02DiscoverCommunity needs
03ResearchCapstone ideas
“Everyone has a story
worth sharing.”
CAREER EXPLORATION COMMUNITY CONNECTION STUDENT VOICE FUTURE READINESS

Choose your path

Community Partners as Living Books

Learn about the experience, choose your role, review the schedule, prepare for conversations with students, and register.

PARTNER PORTAL

Thank you for your interest in serving as a Living Library Community Partner for Hampton City Schools. Your willingness to invest your time, experiences, and perspective has the potential to change the trajectory of a young person's life.

The Living Library is built on a simple belief:
Everyone has a story worth sharing, and every student deserves the opportunity to learn from someone who is making a difference in their community.

Whether you serve as a panelist or facilitate a small group discussion, your experiences will help students connect classroom learning to the real world while inspiring them to think critically about how they can positively impact the communities around them.

People become books.
Conversation becomes action.

The Living Library is touchpoint in Hampton City Schools’ year-long eighth-grade Signature Experience: Self and Community Impact and Transition. It moves students from personal discovery toward purposeful community action.

Community professionals become “Living Books,” sharing honest stories about their passions, challenges, service, innovation, and the work they do to improve Hampton and beyond. Students use those conversations as primary research for their Transition Capstone.

My future, my journey

One experience. Four connected touchpoints.

Students progress from discovering who they are to presenting how they can make a difference. The Living Library serves as the bridge between personal interests and real community needs.

1
Self & Community Discovery

Finding your passion, purpose, and place

Students explore personal interests and identify their connection to the community.

2
The Living Library

Exploration to Action

Students connect career aspirations to real-world community issues through research and conversation.

3
Projects to Purpose

Ideas that strengthen community

Students research solutions and build an actionable plan around their chosen issue.

4
Discovery to Impact

Prepared for high school

Students finalize their projects and prepare to present their findings.

Cover of the Living Library Student Research Notebook

The student experience

Today, every student is a researcher.

The Student Research Notebook turns conversation into evidence. It guides students through the full experience and gives educators a tangible record of learning that can be revisited throughout the Capstone process.

01Listen

Attend to what partners do and why they do it.

02Ask

Use curiosity to deepen the conversation.

03Discover

Connect new perspectives to community needs.

04Reflect

Name what surprised, inspired, or challenged you.

05Gather

Record facts, quotes, observations, and questions.

Find your place

Built for community partners.

01
A Living Library community partner speaking with eighth-grade students during a small-group conversation

Community partners

Share how you make a difference.

Help students understand a community issue, the work being done to address it, and the journey that shaped your contribution.

  • Panelist or Living Book role
  • Conversation preparation guide
  • Registration and next steps
Register as a Living Book

Partner playbook

Know what to expect before you arrive.

View partner playbook
01

Choose your role

Panelists join a moderated discussion focused on a community issue. Living Books guide a conversation with approximately 6–8 students.

02

Prepare your story

Focus on the community challenge your work addresses, what shaped your journey, obstacles you faced, and how young people can begin making a difference.

03

Confirm logistics

Your confirmation will include your assigned library, session, arrival time, parking guidance, check-in location, and on-site contact.

04

Lead a conversation

Be authentic, age-appropriate, encouraging, and ready to answer student questions. No formal presentation is required.

VENUE 01

Hampton Main Public Library

School assignment, parking, check-in, and room details will be included in each confirmed partner’s final logistics message.

VENUE 02

William R. & Norma B. Harvey Library

Hampton University arrival, parking, check-in, and room details will be included in each confirmed partner’s final logistics message.

THE BIG QUESTION

How can I make a positive impact?

What problems exist in my community?

Who is working to solve them?

What could my Capstone topic be?

OCT
5–8
2026 Living Library

Confirmed event details

Four days. Two libraries. One powerful experience.

Each school participates in a morning or afternoon experience at either Hampton University Library or Hampton Main Public Library. Students will experience a moderated panel, and rotate through small-group conversations with Living Books.

AM SESSION9:30–11:00 a.m.
PM SESSION11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
FORMATPanel + two small-group rotations

School schedule

October 5–8, 2026

October 5

AMTarrant Middle School · Hampton University Library
PMAndrews PreK–8 School · Hampton Main Public Library

October 6

AMSyms Middle School · Hampton University Library
PMEaton Middle School · Hampton Main Public Library

October 7

AMLindsay Middle School · Hampton University Library
PMJones Magnet Middle School · Hampton Main Public Library

October 8

AMKilgore Gifted Center · Hampton University Library
PMPhenix PreK–8 School · Hampton Main Public Library

The culminating experience

Transition Capstone: Portrait of a Graduate Showcase

The year concludes with students presenting solutions to a judging panel. Their work demonstrates the ability to combine research, career skills, and community action to advocate for positive change.

The GoalConnect evidence, career knowledge, and community impact.
The ShowcasePresent through a digital presentation or tri-fold board.
The ExperienceRespond to questions from educators and community partners.
Family overview of the eighth-grade Self and Community Impact and Transition Signature Experience

Resource library

Everything you need, in one place.

Current public materials are available below. Additional student and educator resources will be added as they are approved for release.

PDF

Living Library One-Page Overview

The revised 2026 program overview, student experience, community connections, and Capstone purpose.

Open file ↗
PDF

Eighth-Grade Signature Experience Overview

The complete four-touchpoint journey, culminating showcase, and family-support guidance.

Open file ↗
PNG

Family-Friendly Signature Experience Guide

A visual guide to the four touchpoints, showcase, and ways families can support students.

Open file ↗
PDF

Community Partner Overview

Purpose, roles, event format, sample questions, and preparation guidance.

Open file ↗

For families

Support the journey from discovery to impact.

Open the family guide

Families help students turn one inspiring conversation into sustained research and action.

Discuss career connections. How does the career field connect to the community issue?
Encourage action. What impact could the proposed solution have?
Attend the showcase. Celebrate the student’s formal presentation and readiness for high school.

Community partner registration

Your story could change a student’s direction.

Complete this interest form to begin. A Living Library team member will follow up with event details, preparation materials, and next steps. Submitting the form indicates interest and does not guarantee placement.

What happens next?We review your career area, match program needs, and contact you with available opportunities.
Which role would you prefer?
Which location would you prefer?
When are you available? Select all that apply.
October 5
October 6
October 7
October 8

Frequently asked

Good questions deserve clear answers.

What is a “Living Book”?+

A community professional who shares an authentic career story and answers student questions in a welcoming, conversational setting.

Do partners need to prepare a formal presentation?+

No. The experience is built around conversation. Partners receive guidance and prompts to help them prepare.

How are students prepared?+

Students research career areas, develop questions, and use a guided journal to capture learning and reflect on next steps.