Bring more than 200 people into Lincoln High's classrooms and ask them how to keep kids from dropping out of school, and before long the blackboards will be full.

On Thursday, the math equations and social studies assignments scribbled on those blackboards were covered with papers to accommodate the group brainstorm that came up with ideas like these:

• Make use of existing mentoring programs. Take the plunge. Step up and volunteer.

• Make lists of support services available in the community and give them to teachers so they can tap into them.

• Create a community partnership to make sure students literally get everything they need from before they're born to the time they first walk through the school doors. Call it Lincoln Loves Little Kids.

• Tap into neighborhoods and churches to cultivate guides and mentors. Go into those neighborhoods and find ways to help different cultures understand others. Include parents in the discussion.

• Let community organizations make sure students have equal access to the activities that help them feel connected in high school. It might be youth baseball or orchestra or dance classes. Make sure they have the money to participate, or the transportation to get there, or a pair of soccer shoes or a violin.

And so the second community conversation Thursday night at Lincoln High School went.

It drew about 225 people, more than the 160-some at the event in October. Both were hosted by Lincoln Public Schools, the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools and the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County.

At the first meeting, the group came up with a number of questions used to bring focus to the second meeting.

On Thursday a panel of experts touched on topics including diversity, helping students feel included and the importance of early childhood education.

Then participants broke into 11 small groups that discussed prekindergarten education, helping students in the juvenile justice system succeed, diversity and inclusion, resources to parents and advocating for kids.

Each group came up with recommendations on its topic and participants filled out forms indicating how they'd like to continue to help.

A committee will look at the group's recommendations, match participants involved to existing programs and see if there are groups that can work on new ideas that grew out of the conversations.

Inside room 102 at Lincoln High, the conversation centered on diversity and how to make students feel included.

Many believed the bottom line was relationships, and the group spent its hour trying to figure out ways to foster them.

"Students need to know that what they have to offer matters and they are recognized for that," said John Hastings, an associate principal at Southwest High school. "You can't do that without relationships."

Reach Margaret Reist at 473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com.