The mission of Be The Change Teams is to be the driving force in creating the school, organization, or community of their dreams.

NOTICE

While working in schools all over the United States and Canada since 1987, students everywhere have shared the same lists of things they don’t like and even hate about their schools - We all know the list; cliques, rumors, stereotyping, humiliation, isolation, negative peer pressure, bullying, violence, drug abuse, self-mutilation, eating disorders, racism, sexism, homophobia, competition and academic stress.

With the recent focus in our schools moving to improving test scores, one of the results has been that teachers and students are facing increased pressure to meet new standards. In many schools these pressures are compounded by increased class sizes, and a drastic reduction in extra-curricular programming, counseling services and teacher availability. Our kids are being asked to navigate through a sea of personal emotions and interpersonal challenges without the support and tools they so desperately need and deserve.

What will it take for us to notice our kids are in crisis? Many of our children are feeling lonely, hopeless, depressed, frightened, addicted and, in many cases, even suicidal.

CHOOSE

As parents and educators, we believe it’s time for us all to step up and share our children’s burden. If our kids can’t experience that love and connection are possible in their schools, how can they ever believe it’s possible in their own lives or in the world? Our work is about teaching young people that they are not victims. They are the heroes they have been waiting for. As an organization we have committed ourselves to demonstrating that all young people (everywhere) can have the schools, communities and lives of their dreams.

The fact is, most of what our kids are hating in their schools has to do with the attitudes, beliefs, hurt and destructive habits that have been passed on to them by others and are now being perpetuated by their own actions. By challenging young people everywhere to step up and take personal responsibility for their lives and schools, we are (in the words of Gandhi) teaching them to Be The Change they wish to see in the world. Day after day, in our work with Challenge Day, we have witnessed the miracle of young people and adults coming together to embrace this challenge!

In our work in the schools, we find that young people everywhere want and need the same things - love, acceptance and connection. Challenge Day has consistently proven that these things are possible in our schools. We believe anything we all want, we can get.

ACT

We believe by inspiring concerned and committed adults to join hands with motivated youth leaders, we can and will Be The Change we all wish to see in our schools. As part of our vision we are assisting schools everywhere in the creation of Be The Change Teams. These teams are made up of committed youth and adults from the greater school community with the sole purpose of planning and creating a school environment where every child feels safe, loved and celebrated.

Utilizing the Be The Change Movement’s - Formula for Change, Be The Change Teams become the driving force in the creation of the school of their dreams.