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Weaving the Invisible Fabric of Connectedness
Author: Sally MatsuishiDirector of National Youth Programs“He yelled hate at me and my grandma and no one did anything. I have to ride that bus tomorrow. My mom tells me to be safe, but how am I supposed to NOT be Asian?” The young man’s tearful rage made the Zoom...
We Must Prioritize Collaboration and Community
Author: Lisette Ostrander, Ph.D.Director of Education Programs As I get ready to jump into this school year and finalize content for Beyond Differences National Educator Cohorts, I reflect on a social and emotional learning (SEL) workshop Beyond Differences hosted in...
Depression and Anxiety On the Rise in Youth and Teens During COVID — Experts Say Adolescents Need Connection to Thrive in School
This week, JAMA Pediatrics released a review of 29 studies from around the world that shows a 25 percent spike in anxiety depression and 20 percent rise in anxiety for children and teens since the pandemic began. The meta-analysis included more than...
Lonely at Lunch
Guest Author: Lucy HaysBeyond Differences Teen Board Member Every day in middle school I would eat lunch with my group of friends. In the earlier, sunnier part of the school year, we would eat in the courtyard. One day, I was sitting with our other friends, eating my...
Social Isolation in Bay Area Schools
Guest Author: Danika Clifford Beyond Differences Teen Board Leader Have you ever noticed how many kids sit alone at lunch or walk by themselves between classes, while other groups of kids happily walk around flaunting their connections and friendships? Why do kids...
Is Your Kid’s Smartphone making them Unhappy?
Today’s teenagers average over 6.5 hours per day of screen time. Being connected is literally a full-time job for them, possibly explaining why the number of teens holding a part-time job has dropped dramatically. They have more leisure time and 24/7 social access....
Beyond Differences Portland
The 2018-2019 school year marks Beyond Differences third year of programming in Portland, OR. We started off this school year with six Portland Teen Board members going to the Bay Area to participate in the CA Teen Board Retreat....
We Dine Together
Supporting students at all middle schools to create a culture of belonging for everyone. On November 15, 2018, Beyond Differences and San Francisco Bay Area’s top-tier restaurants are coming together for the third annual We Dine Together event. Proceeds from each...
Is TBH Safe for My Teen?
November App Alert: This month’ App Alert looks at tbh, an anonymous teen compliment app for iPhone users available at the App Store. Designed with bullying prevention in mind, tbh claims to be “the only anonymous app with positive vibes.” BASIC INFO...
13 Reasons Why – To Watch or Not to Watch?
This post looks at 13 Reasons Why, the Netflix series produced by Selena Gomez based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Jay Asher. A deeply disturbing series about teen suicide, parents should know that the series depicts bullying, abuse, drunk...