Dr. Dawn Brooks DeCosta - Leading with Culturally Responsive and Affirming SEL (CRASEL): Cultivating Cultures of Care and Connection

This interactive session draws on the lessons from The Change You Want to See and the district-wide impact of Culturally Responsive and Affirming Social Emotional Learning (CRASEL) in Harlem Community School District 5. Participants will explore how integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) with culturally responsive practices creates more connected, equitable, and mentally healthy school environments.

Through storytelling, real district data (demonstrating academic growth, reduced suspensions, and stronger community engagement), and hands-on reflection activities, participants will learn how to cultivate school cultures that affirm identity, build trust, and center student and family wellbeing.

This workshop will engage participants in reflective dialogue, collaborative mapping of school systems against CRASEL principles, and guided practice in designing actionable next steps for their own contexts.