Wendy Toole

I asked Belong Hub to come into my classroom and help my students identify frustrations of exclusion that they were feeling in our school community. First, Rachael created an atmosphere where my students felt comfortable being honest about their insecurities at school. Through conversation, games, and brainstorming, the students admitted that despite the school’s efforts at inclusion, these West African newcomers felt isolated and insecure about their lack of English proficiency and their perceived notion that the bulk of the school community was not interested in getting to know them. Crucially, Rachael and Mustafa steered them away from identifying as victims, rather they prompted the students to take next steps into their own hands. The students prioritized community-building activities and Rachael helped them organize two projects that they would take the lead on. Now, one group is hosting a school-wide checkers tournament (Angolan rules!) this upcoming April. The other group has organized an extra-curricular soccer club, tapping into a city league that plays pick up games at a nearby park. The students are testing their confidence and social bravery as they promote these programs by visiting advisories, posting flyers, and spreading the word to classmates whom they identify as friendly and approachable.

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Perhaps most importantly, these students have prompted a conversation amongst school leaders that will affect school policy around newcomers. They are asking to be included, they are showing a willingness to engage. Checkers and soccer are a fun starting point. But Rachael’s work has given me key talking points to bring to the administration around classroom structure and academic success. In our current anti-immigrant political climate, our school leaders are especially eager to make these students feel safe. The onus is on us, the non-immigrant community members, to make institutional changes that benefit everyone.

Thank you, BelongHub, for helping my students feel less vulnerable and more empowered to change their high school experience for the better!