Welcome and lets jump in and talk about what is beyond differences. It is a Student Leadership organization exclusively dedicated to ending socialize station in middle school and im sure many of you can remember when you help terribly left out and there was one child that always set by themselves, and were working to change the culture of middle school so that everyone feels excepted and included when they show up each day accepted and included when they show up each day. How do you see it actually functioning. We see students that have felt left out, and by bringing awareness to the other students they know those kids to spend the time the library, the bathroom or away from other students. And what we know about social isolation, there is medical evidence that finds that students that are socially isolated are impact later on in life. What we have been able to do with this organization is to educate the young people and through the youth of the community in marin, the estate at indy portland area to educate students on how to help and have an impact. That is wonderful, and can you talk a little bit about the inception of beyond differences and how it came about. Unfortunately, it is a tragic story for my family. My daughter passed away when she was 15 1 2 in her sleep due to the medical condition she was born with. It was a facial disfigurement, and when lily was in middle school it became obvious to her and to her classmates that because of her differences, she felt left out. When lily passed away in her sleep, it was those children that approached me afterward and said that we did not know we were leaving lily out. We feel so sad about this, and we want to do something in her honor. It is then and there that those Young Students stepped up and came to may instead we will do something now to speak with other children to make sure they did not have to go through what lily went through when she was alive. How extraordinary that a peer group of that age could be that reflective income to the mother of a fellow student and talk about their situation, and there sense of what that was. It was extraordinary and we did not expect to be where we were six years later with this robust Student Leadership program. It speaks to the division and wisdom of the children, and also to the need that we have seen over the last six years which continues to grow and unfold for both mike and ike, and the rest of the board, and teachers all over the United States that are working with these materials. When we talk about Leadership Development and the school district, can you talk a little bit more about what actually happens, and what part of the program. Any couple of minutes you will meet two high steam high teenage board leaders, and we have some programs that we run from middle school and in giving assembly programs, developing curriculum that the teachers can use very easily, and we also Scale National awareness holidays, and mike will talk about some of the most popular programs. We begin with no one eats alone. And there are clicks in the lunch program, and there are some students tested by themselves, and the no one eats alone and and they play games and have conversations, and be more inclusive and feel they are part of the school program. We are proud that over the last several years we have caught over 1100 schools with this offering, and you see that the kids are we are, and adults are aware that we are providing the opportunity for the kids to know what to do in these situations so they can help their colleagues and peers, and develop an appreciation for those that are different, and the kids can develop empathy for their peers. That is wonderful. We will take a quick break and come back to mosaic in a moment, so join us in a moment. Good morning and welcome to mosaic, and i am rabbi eric weiss and im honored to be your host. Were in a wonderful conversation with beyond differences, a wonderful organization that concentrates on the young people in society, and welcome, karro and sophia. Karro carl and sophia. We have been involved for about four years, and i started in the eighth grade. I was wondering what i was doing here when i first got involved in thought i might be too cool for this. We started in my school and they asked me if i wanted to be a dj for the event, and i loved music so i was the dj and played music for the entire week at lunch every day. I saw people becoming friends with people they had never met before, or talked with before are hung around them. That was the moment where i understood the fact that we are actually making a difference, and that i had a purpose. That was what skyrocketed me into what im doing now. That wonderful, and i did you get involved, sophia . My sister joined before i did, and once i saw her doing it, i knew that it was my duty to help others feel more included in middle school, and not feel the way that i felt when i was in middle school. How does this work and what do the two of you do is leaders in the context of beyond differences . We do a lot of handson work and behind the scenes, going to assemblies, mentoring middle schoolers, having conversations with them, and behind the scenes is fundraising, social media, and things like that. And we have places around the country and the bay area, and i have done and interstate internet Safety Conference in dc, and i spoke with educators in the state of maine about how to mediate and see what is going on in terms of their classrooms and what the students are doing to treat each other in certain ways within that classroom environment. Were also educating adults at the same time as educating the students in the assemblies. That is fantastic. I have a big question because it is not usual we get a chance to talk with folks with your life experience. Why do kids, young adults in your age group, feel isolated . What is this . Sophia . In middle School People are exploring what they want to be and who they see themselves as, and that can cause problems when it comes to friends. Having to separate because they think that one person may be into something they are not, and that is weird. A lot of Problems Develop because people think that because they are difference, that keeps them from being together when we should be excepting differences and celebrating them accepting differences and it, celebrating them. And this begins in the early ages, and then progressing into junior high and middle school, high school and beyond. Are you saying that part of the work of beyond differences is to let people know it is okay to get to know who you really are, and that it matters, and that you can be different, but still be part of a group, and be included. Is that the undercurrent . Absolutely. The biggest thing about beyond differences is celebrating the differences instead of judging each other based upon those differences. We want everybody to be together and celebrate the way that we are unique, each in our own way. In todays political atmosphere due to the president ial election, and without moving into the political round, when you experienced the way that kids are growing, what is important to understand about the ways that people are different and included, and what is important for us to grapple with . I think it is important for society to respect each others differences. To be inclusive in a way that knowing that everyone is different, and that people have different things, coming together to move forward in our everyday lives. To celebrate everyones differences instead of segregating ourselves. We have just a moment before going to the break, and carl, if there is one thing that you have learned about yourself, or Something Different as result of being a part of beyond differences, what would that be . Not only just about myself but in people in general, it is the Little Things that happened to you that matter. I was socially isolated a middle school because i was from la and i liked the dodgers, and everything i love was when the giants were winning the world series all the time. I think that the way that somebody is influenced by certain tiny Little Things, whether it is the fact that you are short, too tall, or even the fact that you have a job or whatever, that can affect you deeply even though it seems very tiny. I think that everybody should remember that even though you may think you are all on top, high and mighty, these things are very important. Eyeing from los angeles and i love the dodgers, and thank you so much, carl and sophia, for being with us. We will be back with more mosaic in a moment. Welcome back to mosaic, and i am rabbi eric weiss , and im honored to be your host. Were in a wonderful conversation about beyond differences that started in the bay area and this now national, about including middle School Students in High School Student in society. And welcome back, sophia and karro, High School Leaders for beyond differences. Laura, lets continue the conversation about how beyond differences has moved beyond the bay area and into the national landscape. About three years ago we took the lunchtime special event, no one eats alone, and through wordofmouth we ended up with over 1100 schools. We send out free backpacks to any school in the u. S. That wants to do the no one eats alone in their school, and we specifically pick valentines day to run no one eats alone and we are very proud that this fall were launching a new curriculum and special event, know your classmates, modeled after the president obama initiative, know your neighbors. And were partnering in the bay area to create a new curriculum, know your classmates and we celebrate that on october 21. It is so beautiful and storytelling is so important for people to understand in their heart, mind and soul, and can you tell a story about any of your experiences as a leader in beyond differences . To me the most influential story that i could tell, that had the biggest impact, was when i was in assembly a few years ago as a sophomore. I was leading a group of 26 graders, and i asked them like i would ask any group of six graders if they could share a story about a time when you were isolated socially, or when you isolated someone else, or when you saw it happened and did not do anything or may have. Nobody really raise their hands for a minute until this kid next to me did. I called on him and he said, i have been bullied all of my life because i am short. And that took me back and i thought it was no big deal, and i looked back at him and saw that he had tears running down his face. That is when i realized that Little Things do matter. I put my hand on his shoulder, and i was just at a loss for words. At that point the other 19 kids in the circle joined in and try to do their best to make them feel better and include him in the group. That was probably the most beautiful moment ive seen as being a part of this organization, the kids taking an initiative to include those left out from everyone else. That is fantastic. For you, in this moment, is there some way that it makes you different, for the next time you were with somebody, or the next time you were with the kid or your peers and hearing what they had to say about social isolation . Absolutely, and i think it totally changed my perspective on social isolate station and how it can mean of allied a wide variety of things and how i actually make a difference. This was an indicator that i could do this, and it is possible to get people to include one another, they have to see a little bit of the light in order to do it. As i listened you it appears there is something about how your path of work that gets you some internal confidence as a human being. And to take other forms of leadership to speak up, to articulate things that you see, and to try to change the interaction, is that fair to say . Yes, all of it, perfect. Wonderful. Laura, i can imagine the dream you have this organization in the bay area, there is so much you have learned and seen, and i wonder if you can talk a little bit about the differences you have seen that surprised you, or that have warmed your heart, that have been significant in your observation of the big issue of inclusivity in society. It is very big and getting bigger every day. You referenced the political atmosphere we are living in, and the anxiety that kids internalize when they show up to school each and every day due to the Current Events and being afraid of the differences, the earlier we can get to the children and teach them, and asked my team leaders have been teaching the young are student younger students, and the more leadership we can create among all of the children in the u. S. And the more leadership we can create among all of the children in the u. S. We do not want kids to be victimized for feeling different, and we want to create new leaders, and make it cool to include, and not to feel start for one another, but to create a society in which we groom children to become leaders. That is my goal in dream, and it is a big mission, but we are all in this together. I see so much evidence that other organizations and enlightened souls are doing the same. It is wonderful to have you and we will take a quick break and come back to mosaic in just a moment. Hey look, its those guys. [music] shawn look at those pearly whites, man. [music] bud whoa, cute shawn shutup. Jess are you good to drive . Shawn im fine. [music] [police siren] jess how many did you have . Shawn i should be fine. Jess you should be . Officer sir, go ahead and step out of the vehicle for me. Shawn yes, sir. Bud see ya, buddy. Today, shawns got a hearing, well see how it goes. Good luck so, it turns out buzzed driving and drunk driving, theyre the same thing and it costs around 10,000. So not worth it. Good morning and welcome back to mosaic, and i am trent eight. Were in the middle of the wonderful conversation with beyond differences and we welcome back sophia, one of the High School Leaders, and the superintendent of the San Rafael School district, and welcome back, michael and sophia. Michael, can you talk a little bit about the over you all the overall vision of beyond differences . It started out as a Small Organization in marin county and now a national movement, the dream of every student willing respected as an individual and accepted. As the cofounder said, this is a social movement that we see among the youth in the community to end this. When most of us look back on middle school in junior high, it is generally not a pleasant memory. We would like to change the dynamic and make sure that it is a place for all of the kids feel healthy, safe and welcome. And our community we had early supporters from the Marin Community foundation and we got started here and now Going National to end social isolation. Sophia, how did beyond differences get the support . We have some major donors, at t, San Francisco giants, the warriors, and we get donations from all over. We are currently trying to raise money, and it is very exciting to reach the goals. Wonderful. Before we say goodbye, how does someone get in touch with beyond differences and how can somebody access the curricular structure . All of our programs are free. If people are interested in getting a toolkit for know your classmates or they could contact our website our offices in san rafael, and we will send out the information. All of these programs are free to the schools, and we rely on the kindness of others for donations so that we can reach more and more students across the country and beyond. Sophia, for the last thoughts, can you talk a little bit about how you feel this has changed you and the way you are is a person in the world. It makes me more aware of my surroundings. You see in everyday life people being isolated, and it makes me more inclined to go up to these people, and to really walk the talk. That is what i have learned from beyond differences and it has changed me as a person. And michael, what is one thing you have seen in your capacity of change . It not only brings awareness to the adults and children in the schools, it provides people with the tools to do something about this, and that is where change begins. Thank you so much for being so articulate about this important issue, and this wonderful organization, beyond differences, and all of the work that you do. Can we talk a little bit about what your hopes are, sophia, about what you see for yourself with the work you have done with beyond differences beyond high school . I hope that i can come back when i have children and they are older that they do not have to go through with these kids have to go through today, and hopefully the greater goal is to ban socialization isolation at the middle and high school. That would be wonderful to ban social isolation. Michael, and what have you seen in this work . I see it happening, and i see it touching anyone that is had this experience. And again, in Public Schools we see it happening every day and we want to keep at this and make it in. Thank you so much, and we will continue did to talk about beyond differences, and thank you so much. Idea. We would love to hear from you. Go to facebook dot com slash bay sunday and please welcome to bake sunday, and i am your host, kenny choi. And we would love to hear from you if you have an idea for the show, and please welcome mark and john from the mill valley hill festival sponsored by kpix 5. Give us the highlights of the festival. We are very excited about this festival, and it has tremendous star power and going in depth. We have amazing films on opening night,