By Angel Jin, ISB Communications
Published on Friday, March 15, 2024
This school year, we have focused on defining what it means to be a Dragon, empowered with purpose and compassion. This week, we have had the pleasure of having Alberto Lorenzo, from Right to Be, an organization that has offered bystander training for over 15 years, here at school giving interactive presentations to Middle School and High School students, parents and staff.
Right to Be trains all over the world and specializes in workplaces, high schools, neighborhoods, and college campuses. All this week, Alberto equipped students, staff and parents with practical tools that we could use personally or professionally to combat disrespectful behavior and uncomfortable situations in our everyday life. Their bystander tool focuses on turning the care we have for each other into simple, creative, and effective action.
"Our speaker was incredible! I was incredibly engaged because he shared a lot of his own experiences and made the training much more personal." - HS Student
In these engaging sessions, we talked through scenarios of disrespect or harassment you could see in a school setting, and more importantly explored how we could intervene in a way comfortable for us. Students, staff and parents were open and curious to learn, including about the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention, Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct. Dragons left these sessions feeling more prepared and confident with the tools and strategies needed to extend compassion to a neighbor or even a stranger when we least expect it. When asked to rate how much they agreed with the following statement, “The 5Ds gave me strategies I can use to safely intervene if I see disrespect.”, 91% said they agreed or strongly agreed with this statement. By fostering a culture of empathy and awareness, these workshops have undoubtedly inspired positive change within our community.
Alberto Lorenzo's engaging presentations have highlighted the importance of standing up for others and fostering a culture of inclusivity and support within our school community. Through these interactive activities and thought-provoking discussions, he has empowered us to become active bystanders and make a positive difference in the lives of those around us.
"I now can offer guidance to my child on the [actions] to take when facing disrespectful behaviors." - ISB Parent
As Dragons, we are committed to being not only academically successful but also socially responsible individuals. By embracing our school's values of purpose and compassion, we are building a stronger, more united community where everyone feels valued and supported. We are grateful for the valuable insights and skills that Alberto Lorenzo and Right to Be have shared with us, and we are excited to continue our journey of personal growth and social awareness. Together, we will continue striving to create a school environment where kindness, empathy, and respect are at the core of everything we do.
"My small moment matters." - ISB staff member
To learn more about our diversity, equity and inclusion commitments and goals, click here.