"We can agree to disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist."  - James Baldwin

In January 2024, the search for collective meaning of SEL concepts continued with Community of Practice sessions with Allegheny County teachers, leaders, higher education faculty and staff, families, and early educators. This month, the focus was on the topic: Shifting Perspectives. Even though we may often want to figure out how to change other people's perspectives, this month we focused more on how to be open to shifting our own perspectives, when needed. We read, "Those Shoes" by Maribeth Boelts to kick off the conversation. This book was particularly useful because it captured how hard it can be to shift our own perspective, at any age. Being curious about your own point of view and how it evolves over time, may make it easier to see and embrace opportunities for change.

Some ideas for shifting perspectives that came up in our conversations are listed below. Maybe some of these will resonate with you, or they will spark new for you to try. 

1) Think back to a moment when you had a firmly held belief, and ultimately ended up changing your mind about it. What happened that led you to change your mind? Was that change fast/slow, easy/difficult? Are you glad you changed your mind? What belief do you hold now that you feel strongly about? Could you ever imagine it changing too? 

2) Becoming aware of how you react to different perspectives is a great way to learn more about yourself. What emotions do they bring up for you? Are you defensive, fearful, curious, intrigued? How do you respond? Do you get quiet and shy away from the person? Or do you get more adamant about re-asserting your point of view? Understanding these patterns about yourself can help you recognize your reaction when it happens, and be intentional about whether you want that to be your reaction, or if you want to disrupt it.

3) Sometimes different perspectives are just different, and sometimes they are harmful. It is possible that we need to get better at discerning the difference between the two. Then we will know which differences to make more room for (inclusion) and which differences to speak up about and disrupt. Where are there differences that elicit a strong reaction from you, and how do you decide which kind of difference they are?

Resources -

• To learn more about Shifting Perspectives, see this podcast on Changing Your Beliefs, or read how to connect with differences even then whey are uncomfortable. When it is time to speak up against a perspective that is harmful, here are some tips for you and your child.
• Check out more info about choosing, using, and donating racially-affirming picture books that help people develop SEL skills like shifting perspectives.
• If you want to purchase more High-Quality, Racially Affirming Picture Books to support SEL learning, check out our fantastic partners at the Young Dreamers Bookstore, https://www.theyoungdreamersbookstore.com/. 

To learn more about our journey as a convener of SEL Communities of Practice, check out: Creating a Sense of Community and Building Relationships.  

Gratitude -

Thank you for funding and leadership provided by Project SEEKS, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, PA.