Transformative SEL is a Journey
“SEL devoid of culturally-affirming practices and understandings is not SEL at all.”
-”When SEL is Used As Another Form of Policing,” Dr. Kaler-Jones
Last Month, our Research-Practice Partnership Director, Alexandra Lotero, presented at the 19th Annual Mentoring Matters Conference. Aligned with the theme Back to the Basics, presenters shared innovative practices, addressed emerging challenges, and explored adapting in the now and in the future.
The day convened nearly 100 of New York's mentoring and youth development professionals and Alexandra shared a little about Student Success Network’s Transformative SEL journey during a fireside chat.
SEL, Not Just Another Acronym
Before we get out our canoes, planes, bikes, and trains for this journey ahead, let’s just have a quick chat about SEL - what exactly is it?
Our friends at CASEL name SEL or Social Emotional Learning, as an integral part of education and human development.
“SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”
✈️ More from CASEL on this here.
Alexandra shared with conference participants that while helpful, “SEL can sometimes be such a broad set of skills and attitudes that it can often be interpreted and taught in very different ways and have different impacts. Like anything else, it can be harmful or helpful.”
She then went on to share that some folx may emphasize “personally responsible SEL”. This form of SEL is focused on individuals changing their behaviors and beliefs, rather than critically analyzing unjust systems or unsupportive environments that may be impacting individuals. Personally responsible SEL focuses on teaching individuals core competencies like self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
Re-imaging, Together
As a community of 80 organizations trying to transform practice, programming, and policy, we strive to re-imagine what already is. So, what might a re-imagined form of SEL look and feel like? This is not a new way of thinking, others have already begun to do just this and there is another way of thinking! Just as our friends at CASEL helped us with a SEL definition earlier, they’ve got our back once more - enter: Transformative SEL, where we might focus on communities rather than solely on individual actions.
Transformative SEL is a process whereby young people and adults:
build strong and respectful relationships that facilitate co-learning to critically examine root causes of inequity
develop collaborative solutions that lead to personal, communal, and societal well-being
and redistribute power and promote social justice through increased engagement in school and civic life.
⛵ More from CASEL on this here.
Key Differences Between Personally Responsible SEL & Transformative SEL
SEL taught from a transformative place acknowledges the realities of oppression that BIPOC individuals face and as Dena Simmons said, SEL devoid of examination of the systems of oppression faces the risk of becoming “white supremacy with a hug.”
Personally Responsible SEL
Ask individuals to display prosocial attitudes and behaviors
Conforms/complies with dominant social order
Focused on individual skill development
Might emphasize core competencies of self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
Transformative SEL
Critically analyzes institutions and systems and seeks to change systems
Takes action to fight injustice
Focused on community building and collaborative problem solving
Adds a focus on identity, agency, curiosity, and belonging
🚂 Table adapted from CASEL: Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Toward SEL in Service of Educational Equity and Excellence
Journey With a Capital J!
Okay, to recap - while Transformative SEL might offer a new way of doing and being, it is a JOURNEY. It’s important to acknowledge that transformation does not happen overnight and it certainly does not happen after one blog post read!
Alex invited participants to dig deeper and consider how we’ve come to know SEL up to this point, “In embracing Transformative SEL, I invite you to notice the traditional view of competencies as things that individuals need to master and accomplish. With Transformative SEL, I invite you to focus on creating a supportive environment and emphasizing embodying transformative processes.”
We’re all on this journey and we want to co-create spaces that embody Transformative SEL with you!
🚲 Where to start?
Explore our Foundations For Youth SEL Development Reflection Tool where you’ll find six building blocks (or foundations) and countless actionable ideas directly shared by Network Members!
✈️ ⛵ 🚂 🚲 🚗 !
