Building a Community Commons for Latino Families: Helping Parents Navigate AI with Confidence

By Belén Quellet, Executive Director, The Learning Quest

Artificial intelligence is changing how we search for information, complete school assignments, communicate, and make everyday decisions. Whether we realize it or not, AI is already part of family life.

For many parents, this brings mixed emotions. Excitement about new opportunities often comes with uncertainty. Should children use AI for homework? How can families tell if a video is real? What should parents ask schools about AI? How do we prepare children for a future that is changing faster than any previous generation has experienced?

At The Learning Quest, we believe parents should not have to navigate these questions alone.

That is why we are launching Building a Community Commons for Latino Families, a new initiative designed to create practical, bilingual resources that help families approach AI with confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking.

A Community Commons, Not Just Another Guide

This project is more than a publication.

It is a living resource that will grow through the experiences, questions, and ideas of families, educators, researchers, and community organizations. Rather than presenting ourselves as the sole experts, we want to create a space where knowledge is shared, refined, and continuously improved.

We chose the term Community Commons intentionally. Like a public square or a community library, it is a place where people contribute, learn from one another, and build something that benefits everyone.

In Spanish, we refer to this concept as an Acervo Comunitario—a shared body of knowledge that belongs to the community itself.

Parents Don't Need to Become AI Experts

One of the biggest misconceptions about artificial intelligence is that parents need to master the technology in order to guide their children.

They don't.

Children don't need parents who know every new app or platform. They need adults who know how to ask thoughtful questions, encourage reflection, and model lifelong learning.

The conversations that matter most are surprisingly simple:

• How do you know this information is trustworthy?

• What helped you solve this problem?

• Did AI do the thinking, or did it help you think?

• What questions should we ask before believing what we see online?

These are not just questions about AI. They are questions about learning.

Working With Schools, Not Against Them

One of the principles guiding this initiative is collaboration.

Schools across the country are developing thoughtful approaches to artificial intelligence, recognizing both its opportunities and its limitations. For example, the recently adopted Falls Church City Public Schools AI policy emphasizes that AI should support teaching and learning without replacing human judgment, critical thinking, creativity, or meaningful relationships. It also recognizes the importance of age-appropriate use, transparency, student privacy, and ongoing communication with families.

We believe parents and schools are partners.

The Community Commons is designed to strengthen that partnership by helping families understand how AI is being used in education, encouraging productive conversations with teachers, and providing practical questions parents can ask at parent-teacher conferences, school meetings, or around the dinner table.

Built in Phases

The project is being developed in three phases.

Phase One focuses on creating the first bilingual manuscript and a series of practical resources that answer the questions parents ask most often.

Phase Two will expand the collection through community conversations, workshops, and partnerships with organizations serving Latino families, ensuring that the guide reflects real questions and lived experiences.

Phase Three will establish the Community Commons as an ongoing, community-driven resource that continues to evolve as technology, education, and family needs change.

Our goal is not to publish a document and move on. Our goal is to create something that continues to grow.

A New Publication Series: AI at Home

As part of the initiative, The Learning Quest is also launching AI at Home: Real Conversations for Families, a bilingual publication series designed for parents and caregivers.

Each issue will answer one practical question, including:

• Should I let my child use AI for homework?

• How do I know if an image or video is real?

• What questions should I ask before trusting AI?

• How can AI support learning without replacing my child's critical thinking?

• How do I talk with my teenager about using AI responsibly?

These resources are being designed as easy-to-read, visually engaging publications that families can save, share, and discuss together.

An Invitation

This project began as part of the Latino Media Development Program (LMDP): The AI Edition, but it will continue long after the program concludes.

We are inviting parents, educators, community leaders, researchers, and organizations to help shape this work.

What questions do you have about AI?

What conversations are happening in your family?

What resources would help you feel more confident supporting your children?

The Community Commons belongs to all of us.

Together, we can build a trusted resource that helps Latino families navigate a rapidly changing world—not with fear, but with curiosity, critical thinking, and the confidence that learning is something we continue throughout our lives.

Interested in collaborating or contributing?

The Learning Quest welcomes partnerships with schools, nonprofits, parent organizations, and community leaders who share our commitment to empowering families through learning. If you'd like to be part of the Community Commons, we'd love to hear from you. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Puede leer el artículo en español aquí.