Project Belonging is a peer-to-peer training and experiential learning program to prevent hate and Educational Displacement in schools. The project is run by Dr. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess, in coordination with Teacher College, Columbia University, and is funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Preventions, Programs, and Partnerships (CP3).

All students participate in a five-hour online training that introduces them to concepts of Educational Displacement, belonging, and othering in schools. Afterwards, students in the Project Belonging program (not the Project Belonging Training) work in teams to create projects that apply these concepts to their own school environments and communities. They will receive feedback from teachers, Columbia University staff, and peer teams throughout.

Students in the Project Belonging Training receive access to the five-hour course on Educational Displacement, but will not participate in the community-based initiative. Their participation in the training will be entirely asynchronous.

Project Belonging Training is asynchronous, self-paced, and therefore enables participants to complete it at their own pace. Project Belonging Program (which includes the asynchronous training) runs across 3 months; however, it is important to note that project implementation can continue beyond the end of the Program.

Yes! If you are interested in speaking with a member of the Project Belonging team, please contact us through our contact form on the homepage, and we will be happy to schedule a meeting.

The course introduces students to concepts of belonging and resilience in school settings, investigates how and why we develop certain assumptions about our peers and community members, and discusses strategies to promote social connections in students’ communities.

The program is designed for middle and high school students, so the curriculum will be accessible for students in grades 6 - 12. If students need additional time to help understand the material, Teachers College, Project Belonging staff are available to review the content with them.

This project is not limited to racially or ethnically diverse communities. Project Belonging aims to develop student leaders who are committed to creating welcoming and supportive communities. Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to participate.

Both the Project Belonging Program and Training are completely free! Teachers College will provide all the training materials needed for students to complete the program. Student teams in the Project Belonging Program will get a $1000 stipend from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Supervising teachers, principals and school administrators will work to recruit students for the program. Teachers College staff will provide schools with promotional materials and will be available for support. Supervising teachers are only necessary for student teams participating in the Project Belonging Program. Students in the Project Belonging Training (i.e., only participating in the online training) do not need to have a supervising teacher. Supervising teachers are points-of-contact for Project Belonging staff. They may share student concerns, help students coordinate meeting times and spaces, communicate with parents, and assist students through the logistics of the program. Supervising teachers, or another member of the school faculty or administration, will need to be present for online meetings between students and Project Belonging staff. A schedule of meetings will be shared with each supervising teacher/staff member and student team at the beginning of the Project Belonging Program.

While we cannot provide compensation, we do recognize the effort that we ask of supervising teachers. We strongly believe that participation in the program can help foster development for educators. We offer supervising teachers access to an online professional development course, Reimagine Resilience, at no cost. Teachers receive Continuing Education Credits and a certificate from Teachers College, Columbia University for completing this course.

There is no limit to the number of students that can enroll in the Project Belonging Training. The Project Belonging Program may have an unlimited number of students on their school teams; however, please keep in mind that all students on a team are expected to play an active role on their team. We recommend team sizes of 3-5 students.

The Project Belonging Program timeline envisions the completion of a five-hour training, and the following design and implementation phase of the program will vary in the hours required based on each particular team. Following this period, there will be a one-day commitment for student presentations in the Project Belonging Metaverse.

This project will not be completed during class time. Students should find time outside of class to complete the project. Supervising teachers should help students determine how and when they will meet to complete the course and project.

Supervising teachers should let our Project Belonging staff know if any students need accommodations. Our staff will provide translated or scaffolded materials if requested. Project Belonging staff will work with the Office of Access for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID) at Teachers College to provide assistance as necessary.

Please speak with your school or district administrator to determine if you can get credit for participating. Teachers College, Columbia University does not offer school credit for students, although we do offer them a certificate of participation from Columbia University at the end of the training or the program.

Staff is working closely with Teachers College, Columbia University’s Department of Public Safety to ensure all students feel comfortable in the program and their information is protected. All virtual meetings between students and Teachers College staff members include a teacher, principal or administrator from the students' school. All data collected will remain confidential, and all appropriate consent forms will be collected before program participation. Project Belonging has secured the approval of the Institutional Review Board at Teachers College, Columbia University and did not commence any program or training activities prior to the successful achievement of this approval.

All participating students must get consent to participate in Project Belonging. If students are below 18 years of age, parents or legal guardians will need to sign a consent form and a permission form. In addition, the student must sign an assent form before the program or training begins. If students are 18 or older, they may provide consent for themselves. The Project Belonging team will email all forms to students and families; forms are completed and submitted online.

Yes. Principals will need to submit a permission form approving the project before it begins.

Students may choose to complete online surveys before, during, and after the training to monitor their understanding of the content. Students in the Project Belonging Program may also participate in focus groups and interviews via Zoom with Project Belonging staff members in alignment with protocols approved by the Institutional Review Board. All student responses are kept anonymous.

Yes, students are welcome to leave the program at any time.