Seventh- and eighth-graders Betsa, Siddig, Aksayan and Yoel engage in a meaningful reflection about their identities and relationships, and the skills they’ve built for mental well-being in the face of both subtle and overt racism.
Before this session, my friend and past colleague Adrian and I played around with the Skills Assessment tool developed by The Umbrella Project—ultimately adding two categories called ‘resistance’ and ‘culture’ to discuss with our group of seventh- and eighth-grade boys of colour.
In this episode, we unpack some of the complexities boys face in cultural communities and staying authentic. Siddig stresses the importance of self-compassion and being true to oneself, and Adrian shares candid thoughts on the difficulties of expressing emotions and the vital role of support systems.
We explore the significance of community in overcoming daily challenges and systemic barriers, debate kindness versus respect, and discuss adopting a growth mindset for personal development.
The Umbrella Project, Prepare Your Students for the Rain Of Life →