Our Goals
Connect
MAG Hugs strengthens connection and a sense of belonging. |
Potential
MAG Hugs enhances the opportunity for engagement and growth. |
Innovation
MAG Hugs provides the space for innovative minds to flourish. |
MAG Hugs strengthens connection and a sense of belonging, all while providing a space for the potential and innovative minds of our youth to flourish.
The Story
I’ve always wanted to help youth uncover their passion and experience their potential, all while creating community solutions. But as I spent time in the classroom, I was saddened by words like “Do I really have to?” and “I don’t want to do anything.”
In addition, as I searched for teaching strategies that would help to provide relevance to my student’s learning, the statistics from the Childrens’ Defense Fund uncovered the realities that spoke to a lack of connection and belonging. It confirmed we all needed to do more, but there was another area of concern. |
Some of the existing solutions I observed within schools were negative and pervasive. Some focused only on a part of the whole person. As I uncovered the wonderful and comprehensive work of Dr Becky Bailey (Concious Discipline) and Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (How To Talk So Kids Would Listen...), I also found it exciting to see high-level policies and support systems being put in place to guide us to impactful solutions. In addition, when I connected back to my ancestor’s practices, I found the ahupua’a to be a model that optimized the mind, body, and spirit, driven by a sense of belonging and connection. So with all of the foundational knowledge in place, I knew part of the solution would require positive classroom and school structures in order to help connect the hearts and minds of our youth as they reached for and harnessed the stars. MAG Hugs is one important piece of this work.
MAG Hugs is a virtual hug that says to a student “I see you. You are valued."
Sheila B
Sheila B