Lili Rachel Smith's parents knew she struggled at school with inclusion and acceptance. Their daughter was born with a craniofacial anomaly that always made her look different than her peers.
"Lili suffered quietly from social isolation in middle school," said her mother, Laura Talmus.
When Lili passed away in 2009 from medical complications, her parents channeled their grief in a positive direction by founding a nonprofit called Beyond Differences in Lili's memory. The organization focuses on ending social isolation through programming that encourages inclusion and acceptance in middle and high schools. They felt all teens should feel included, valued, and accepted by other students.
They also felt that kids had to lead the process to make it effective. That's why Beyond Differences is led by about 100 high school students, who comprise its teen board of directors.
These leaders serve as social justice activists to make schools more inclusive for all students, help organize national awareness days and facilitate presentations on social isolation in middle schools.
The student-led Beyond Differences programs include:
- Know Your Classmates, which focuses on breaking down barriers around cultural backgrounds, faith, family traditions, gender identity, immigration status, language, and all the other facets that make each student unique.
- No One Eats Alone, which encourages students to sit with classmates they don’t know and get to know them, and spot others who might feel left out and include them.
- Call It Out (soon to be called Be Kind Online) which works to create inclusive communities online, and learning to respond to digital gossip to reduce social isolation.
Beyond Differences has made an impact in more than 5,000 schools around the country since it was founded.
“Social isolation among adolescents is a pressing social issue which affects children's health, well-being, and academic achievements," said Talmus, now the executive director of Beyond Differences. "Together we can end social isolation and create a culture of belonging in every school."
Visit beyonddifferences.org for more information about bringing their programs to your community.
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