"What happens in this class is a kind of tiny miracle. We cross borders, inside ourselves and between us and others, finding the connections that we hunger for and realize that’s what we need to keep going. We’re filled with gratitude for each other and just for being here."
A student in one of my classes at Stanford University wrote this in her journal. How did we achieve this “tiny miracle”? In this article I explain what I see as the key steps to creating an environment on campus where students can “cross borders” and reach a place of genuine understanding and connection. I believe these principles are relevant to any classes or other on-campus forums aimed at fostering inclusion and positive cross-group relationships; I hope that you also consider how to incorporate some of these principles into your work.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_help_diverse_students_find_common_ground