Bloomington High School North math and special education teacher Dani Ansaldo has been hosting Rise Up, a student organization brought to North by the Bloomington Boys and Girls Club (BGC). Circle mentoring, as it is sometimes called, empowers young women at North.
For her work, Ansaldo was awarded BGC’s “Be Great” award earlier this year, in recognition of her work at North.
“It’s a tutorial to help girls find their voices and empower them,” Ansaldo said. She said the program is available for anyone who doesn’t identify as a male. Ansaldo serves as liaison, and is responsible for bringing BGC into North’s community. She leads the weekly tutorials, bringing teens together to build trust, confidence, and confidence.
Each Wednesday, the group sits in a circle on the floor. “It’s clear that there’s no leader there,” Ansaldo said. “And we go over the agreements.” She said those include confidentiality: “what’s said in there stays in there;” no judgement: “it’s a safe place for people to say whatever’s on their mind;” no advice-giving: “we have to let someone just speak and feel the way they want—if they want someone to give them advice, then they can ask for it;” and respect: “showing respect when other people are talking.”
“Then,” Ansaldo continued, “we pass around a talking stone, and let everyone say how they’re feeling for the day.” This is followed by an activity. Some activities have included journaling or collaging. “Some days it’s quiet” during the activity, she said, “and other days there’s conversation.”
“I would say, in general, kids talk about the stressors from school,” Ansaldo said. “You know, like the challenges of having three tests that week, or issues with a friend, … that sort of thing.” She also noticed a change in stressors as students grow: “Our younger students—freshmen—they might have more social issues going on; our older students sometimes have the stressors of ‘what am I doing next?'”
Ansaldo typically hosts between eight and 12 kids, and the program asks students to commit to coming weekly, so that the group is able to get to know each other.
She said she was surprised to win the award. “They said, this award is given to people who have contributed to our Boys and Girls community in a significant manner for multiple years. I’ve been doing Rise Up for three or four years now.”
