Our work is deeply informed by the work of the Social Justice Education Program at UMass Amherst and the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley. 

Our Approach

• We support schools and organizations to center the joy, justice, and authenticity of all young people and adults within their communities. We seek to engage a deep sense of belonging that supports bridging across diverse identities, experiences, and beliefs. 
• We seek to build a true sense of agency for both students and educators, and to center student voices, strengthen intergenerational relationships and build collective action between students, educators, and leaders. Having brave, courageous, and generative dialogues is foundational to our sustained efforts. Building the skills to communicate across differences and find connection, especially when it feels challenging, is at the core of our work. 
• Bridging to belonging: When political and ideological fragmentation runs the risk of separating us from each other and our humanity, we find bridging and deepening understanding across differences to be essential in cultivating belonging. We support educators and students to learn from, challenge, and support one another to navigate polarization and fragmentation in our communities, and explore tensions across social differences and ideologies that are present in our schools and communities, sharing concrete tools and skills that can support all students and educators to feel a sense of agency and confidence.

Meet the Moment. Build the Future

What needs to be in place to build a strong school culture where every student and adult experiences belonging, safety, and dignity? Through our work with schools and districts, we’ve developed a framework that follows a flow designed to meet schools where they are and grow collective capacity over time.

School Culture and Bias Response Framework

We offer a roadmap for prevention, immediate response, and long-term community repair, that makes bias response relational, educational, and sustainable. 

Wherever schools are in their path when they begin this work, there are tiers of support and relational response that we can offer. Schools may be entering or moving between tiers as needed, depending on impact, readiness, and capacity.

As a part of the process, the CES Joy and Justice team provides tools, training, and support for

• Principals and Administrators: we work to help leaders to gauge capacity and plan supports, and to stay centered, calm, and clear when navigating misinformation or politicized reactions to belonging and bias-response work.
• Educators and Support Staff: develop their skills and build everyday habits of belonging and accountability
• Equity and Crisis Teams: Processes, tools and learning to use during incidents, and guide reflection and repair afterward
• Families and Students: Tools and practices for conversation, and student reflection work to support dialogue and healing at home.

Joy and Justice Team

For more information, or a conversation with the Joy and Justice team:

Contact Angela Burke, Director of Professional Services at aburke@collaborative.org, or complete the form below.