Danielle

Getting youth to engage in support groups can be challenging, especially throughout the Summer. So how do you get youth to WANT to be a part of a support group?

The classroom can feel overwhelming at times. Our students’ behaviors change as the season changes. As we all come back from our Spring Breaks, we are left with two more months before summer vacation. During this time, most of our schools are busy with testing and wrapping up projects, and staff may feel tired and overwhelmed. So how do we keep ourselves and our students engaged when many are just thinking about that last day of school?  Here are some class-friendly activities, tips, and tools:

I went through Girls Circle Facilitator Training in 2017, and had the privilege of being trained by the wonderful Victoria Mahand. I remember going up to her after the training and asking her, “How do I do, what you do?” I was referring to her charismatic, inclusive, effective facilitation style. What she did next was model what a facilitator does. She didn’t give advice, she told me, “Danielle, go out and do.” So, that’s what I did for 5 years. I ran circles and grew our program within our community. However, I struggled those first few years with

I’ve been considered selfish in my lifetime and hard to work with, I’ve been called a bitch (I may have earned that one a few times), and as an adolescent, I followed through with a plan to take my own life. Just one of these behaviors is enough for some people to distance themselves. Luckily, I have had people in my life who have stuck by me. They gave me the support I needed to grow, to learn, and most importantly, they gave me multiple chances. I think about this when I’m working with families who are struggling, when I’m facilitating structured support groups for youth, and when I’m showing up for my friends and family.  How I show up is important to me.