Many new ideas arise at the borders of systems. Academics and educators engage in research and reform of the education system itself, but much that is innovative in today's schools originates outside the classroom, in a burgeoning set of programs and partnerships with the voluntary or community sector, and in the relationships being established by bridge builders who connect schools to communities. Innovative school/community partnerships constitute a critical investment in social resilience. While some voluntary sector programs have become well known, few educators or voluntary sector practitioners are aware of the size of the "intertidal zone" between the public education and voluntary sectors, of the diversity of initiatives that have emerged, or of their potential to change both schools and communities for the better. Pedagogical approaches that focus on community building, that integrate community resources into the curriculum, and that situate learning in experiences in community settings, deserve consideration in terms of their contribution to both social resilience and student success. (Contains 9 notes.)