I am so passionate about the important work I do with the Board at Beyond Differences. I joined the Beyond Differences National Teen Board in 9th grade after seeing the deep impact that Beyond Differences’ curriculum made on students through a program in my middle school. Since I joined the National Teen Board, I have participated in the Immigrant & Refugee curriculum team, and have taught Beyond Differences lessons on Empathy and Belonging to kids in my local community as part of a summer camp and after-school program. During my senior year, I will continue this work to stop social isolation in schools.
I was very excited about Activist Academy this year as a chance to form deeper friendships and connections with my peers on the Board, who I primarily know through Zoom and online conversations, since we live all over the country. Activist Academy is one of the most anticipated parts of the Teen Board experience and it was an honor to attend. At this four-day conference at Emory University in Atlanta, we worked together to facilitate new ideas that will help end social isolation in schools. I was motivated by the amazing guest speakers who shared their stories with us. One of these speakers was Nicole Hockley, the founder of
Sandy Hook Promise, who spoke about gun violence and how it can affect the mental health of students and their families. Sandy Hook is near where I live, and hearing her speak about turning pain into power directly was extremely impactful and moved me immensely.
My fellow youth activists, who have incredibly diverse perspectives and experiences, made our daily workshop discussions so engaging and informative. I especially loved the “Belonging Boosters” workshop where we discussed microaggressions and ways we can help prevent and address them. Also, the “Speaking Truth to Power” workshop was very engaging. We discussed how to create a greater sense of belonging and more feelings of inclusivity in schools. The other teens and I reflected on our childhood selves and how we have changed or retained similar qualities. The idea behind this workshop was to find the specific moment that defines our origin story. An origin story focuses on the pivotal time in our lives when everything changed, and we each decided to become activists. Getting the opportunity to hear some of the stories of my peers was so special and made me so proud to be a part of this powerful community of young advocates.
Activist Academy left me feeling even more motivated to continue my work to foster inclusivity and belonging among middle school students in my community and nationwide. I am so grateful to all the facilitators, guest speakers, and board members who organized the trip to create such an extraordinary experience.
Inga Iverson is a National Teen Board member and a rising senior at Rye High School in Rye, New York.
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The mission of Beyond Differences® is to inspire students nationwide to end social isolation and create cultures of belonging for everyone. We envision a world where all youth are accepted, valued, and included and all of our differences are celebrated. Beyond Differences® offers FREE SEL curriculum, lesson plans, supplies, and professional development training to middle school educators all across the nation.
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