Because we are always learning.

We know that while increased confidence in abilities is important for students at risk of disconnection from school, all students can benefit from an increased confidence in leadership and pro-social skills. During the ‘23-’24 academic year, we piloted a new program with a Chapel Hill middle school to provide social emotional learning support to students in school- and it was a huge success!

This program supported students in learning more about themselves and their role in healthy relationships. Students had an increased sense of their personal values after participating in the social emotional learning (SEL) group for one month, as well as more confidence in how to make decisions that are in their best interest. We served 29 students across three cohorts with this pilot program, and have titled the program, Rise!

The principal acknowledged the support we provided their students “at a pivotal time in their school year,” noting that “many of the 8th graders utilized the skills they were taught in the sessions and finished the school year strong.”

Students acknowledged their own growth through participating in Rise, such as needing “to be honest with [themselves] and others [and taking] care of [themselves] more.” Another student learned the importance of “[sticking] to [their] boundaries and values in all kinds of relationships.”

We will continue Rise for the ‘24-’25 academic year, and are excited to expand programming to additional schools within the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Orange county districts!