Be the Change You Wish to See in the World: Stories from the Field

To read about how this series came about, click here.

That mantra, by Mahatma Gandhi, has chosen to guide me this year. I wish that I could say I chose it, but I didn’t. Instead it showed up like an unexpected houseguest and made itself at home in my life—following me each day, perched atop my shoulder, whispering in my ear as I make daily choices. Last Monday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, that whisper grew to a galvanized roar. As I danced to oldies music and cooked brunch with my roommates, the question that played over again in my head was clear: How can I manifest Dr. King’s dream each day, each moment, personally and professionally?

While many people observe Dr. King’s birthday by performing acts of community service, we, the DSC community, are fortunate to further his dream each day that we promote inclusivity through the social, emotional, and ethical development of children. In climates where youth are ostracized and bullied just for being who they are, programs like Caring School Community® (CSC®) can truly transform schools, classroom by classroom.

In honor of that dream—as well as the work that all of us do to foster empathy and understanding in classrooms around the country—I’d like to share a recent video of Ginger Cook discussing the impact of CSC on the Oakland Unified School District.  Ginger oversees the implementation of the Caring Schools Community Initiative in schools across the country.

How have you seen CSC affect your school’s community?  What can you do to be the change that we all wish to see in the world?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Lyndsey

Lyndsey Williams is the Professional Development Coordinator for Developmental Studies Center