SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Teen leaders from around the country came together at Activist Academy to develop curriculum and activities that teachers can use to end social isolation and build belonging in their schools. The programs are offered at no charge to all middle and high schools nationwide.
Activist Academy, a Beyond Differences program of Sandy Hook Promise, is a four-day immersive youth leadership training that teaches students how to use their voice and unique stories to catalyze change and uplift others out of social isolation.
Students tested activities that accompany No One Eats Alone®, a national lunchtime initiative designed to encourage students to sit with students they don’t know and find common ground. By working on a new interactive art activity called Connecting the Dots, participants were able to offer their collective input to make the exercise have maximum impact to help students connect and learn about each other.
Attendees shared their personal stories about race, poverty, immigration status, learning differences, and gender identity, and how it impacts their feelings of belonging in school. By the end of the weekend, these teen leaders had a number of takeaways for students to help cultivate a culture of belonging.
Wendy, age 17 from San Francisco, wanted students and teachers to know that empathy is important, but compassion is key. “You can feel empathetic toward people experiencing poverty or human rights violations, but if you are not doing anything about it, you are just a bystander, and nothing will change. If you view the world through a lens of compassion, you can actively make a change to help individuals feel connected and make your school a better place for everyone.”
Amritha, age 16 from Chicago, loved collaborating with teens from very different backgrounds while finding common ground. “We all have such different stories, but the one thing that unites us is activism. We come at issues from different perspectives, and I loved the shared knowledge. Celebrating differences is essential to belonging.”
Clare, age 15 from Cleveland, emphasized, “It is so important to listen and be heard to help foster connections in school and at home.”
And, Paarth, age 17 from Kalamazoo, Mich., relayed that going to Activist Academy for the last three years helped him shape who he is as a person. “Digging deep into your own story and being open to learning about other people is an important part of belonging. It grounded me and oriented me on what I want to do in the future with activism, and to continue to help students feel accepted for who they are. When students feel connected at school and part of their community, they feel safe.”
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About Sandy Hook Promise
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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