Welcoming Inclusion Activities are brief, interactive experiences that bring the voice of every participant into the room, making a connection to one another and/or to the work ahead, with each perspective-laden, culturally-rich voice being heard, respected and learned from. The more we fully share ourselves and are fully received and understood by others, the stronger and safer our learning environments become. Growing knowledge of and appreciation for our groups help ensure that we will provide opportunities to welcome people in the ways they need and want to be included.

Close each experience in an intentional way. An Optimistic Closure is not necessarily a “cheery ending,” but rather highlights an individual and shared understanding of the importance of the work, and can provide a sense of accomplishment and support forward thinking. Optimistic Closures may be reflective about the learning, help identify next steps, or make connections to one’s own work. Since our learning and our work are always a part of an on-going journey, these experiences bring a moment of pause, of collection, of reflection, to help anchor learning and build anticipation for the efforts to come. What’s important is that each engagement, class period, or school day ends in a thoughtfully planned and meaningful way, helping everyone leave with appreciation and energy, looking forward to connecting again.

By making the time to build the relationships that allow learners to feel a sense of community- that they are “in this together”- teachers create a safer, more equitable environment where all students participate and achieve. Students in schools and classrooms with a strong sense of community are more likely to:

• Be academically motivated (Solomon et al., 2000).

• Act ethically and altruistically (Schaps, Battistich, & Solomon, 1997).

• Develop social and emotional competencies (Solomon et al., 2000).