Beyond Differences

Beyond Differences is a student-led social justice movement dedicated to ending social isolation for millions of middle school children who suffer every day from feeling left out and like they don't belong. We envision a world where every child is accepted, valued and included no matter what their differences. Our goal is to inspire students at all middle schools nationwide to end social isolation and create a culture of belonging for everyone. Our Positive Prevention Initiatives build self-awareness and confidence in children. This not only helps them feel more positive about themselves, but also about others and how they relate to and connect with their fellow classmates. When two children share a moment and learn something new about the other, they discover things in common, often to their surprise and delight. When they know something about the other person, they start to care about them, and so are less likely to turn a blind eye when they see them alone or excluded. In Beyond Differences schools, it's common to hear things like, "Come sit with me" or "Do you want to hang out with us?" At a very sensitive time in the lives of adolescents, these acts of kindness, connecting with classmates and feeling apart of the group can become defining moments that last a lifetime.