HAPPENING NOW
Beyond Differences Launched Educator Cohort with Focus on SEL and DEIB Best Practices
In October 2022, Beyond Differences launched its 2022-23 Educator Cohorts in Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, and New York City. Generous funding from regional grants made it possible for educators to attend these professional learning spaces and resource their...
Beyond Differences Releases Featured Curriculum on Disability Visibility
Beyond Differences released its first-ever Featured Curriculum written by our National Teen Board as part of the 2022 Know Your Classmates® program. The Teen Board members who worked on this curriculum either identify as having a disability or are caregivers to a...
Governor Newsom Celebrates Know Your Classmates® Day
https://vimeo.com/762756992/98ea33649a Growing up, Governor Gavin Newsom struggled with dyslexia. He wrote a children's book, Ben & Emma's Big Hit, to share his challenges and spark a discussion. On October 14, in honor of National Know Your Classmates® Day, he...
The ABCs of Transformative Social Emotional Learning
Beyond Differences is introducing our new ABCs of Transformative Social Emotional Learning (T-SEL). It outlines 26 important elements of creating a T-SEL space to which educators can refer. This poster shows practices, reminders, frameworks, and programs that we...
Beyond Differences Welcomes New National Programs Director
Beyond Differences is pleased to announce that Alyssa Ching has joined their team as the Director of National Programs. Alyssa will work closely with our 9,000+ schools nationwide to manage and expand our three national school-based programs: Know Your Classmates®, No...
Don Carney Leads Educators in Hands-On Strategies and Practices for Restorative Problem Solving
Last week, 50 educators nationwide joined the Beyond Differences Learning Community with a 3-part series on Restorative Practices led by Don Carney, executive director of Youth Transforming Justice. Participants came away with an introduction to Restorative Justice...
National Disability Independence Day
Today, July 26th, marks the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. We would like to honor and celebrate the radical, disabled activists who broke the chains of silence and isolation to bring forth this bill and the...
Activist Workshops Inspire National Teen Board
My name is Sofie and I joined Beyond Differences because I wanted to help middle schoolers free themselves from the pain of social isolation. I had experienced unseen social isolation throughout my life and knew how devastating it can be. Especially,...
Teen Leader Shares Story to Help Others Celebrate Cultural Differences
Whenever I opened my Superman lunch box in elementary school, by the reactions of my peers you would have thought I had just unleashed a wave of noxious gas. Every kid within a 15-foot radius of me wrinkled their noses in disgust. “EEEWWWW, what is that smell!” A...
National Teen Board Creates Connection with Activist Academy
I have been involved with Beyond Differences since 6th grade at my school and jumped at the chance to join the National Teen Board this Spring. I was excited for Activist Academy because I knew I would be able to learn from a dynamic group of young, social...