Initiatives » CRASEL

CRASEL

Culturally-Responsive and Affirming Social-Emotional Leadership (CRASEL) is a liberatory approach to leading and learning that holistically seeks to meet the needs of the school community through raising racial and cultural self-awareness and setting high expectations while attending to students’ individual and collective social and emotional needs through agency, social justice, voice, compassion, empathy, and positive relationship building. 

A federal government grant, sponsored by Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Espaillat in the amount of $1 million will support the CRASEL Expansion Project for 2 years, targeting students and adults at all 23 schools in Community School District 5. In addition, West Harlem Development Corporation provided initial funding for the pilot program and continues to support the expansion.

CRASEL provides capacity-building SEL/Professional Development training to both adults (school and community-based) and students.

CRASEL delivers Social-Emotional Learning/PD training that covers mindfulness practices, emotional intelligence, self-care, and self-awareness practices, and an independent evaluation of the efficacy and progress of the initiative.

CRASEL is collaboration/partnership with Harlem Community School District (HCSD) and the Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC).

Check out our CRASEL trailer video!

Full documentary forthcoming!

Goals

  1. Prepare all members of the school community to meet the social, emotional, and cultural needs of all students.

  2. Protect the rights of all students in HCSD to receive an equitable education.

  3. Modernize curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment to support the positive academic ability of all learners.

Expected Outcomes

All participants will incorporate new skills and methodologies into best practices that...

  1. Foster self-care and self-awareness

  2. Support students' social-emotional needs

  3. Create a welcoming and more inclusive, culturally responsive school culture that leads to a thriving school community

Our CRASEL Partners

Pure Edge

 

Multitasking Yogi

 

Yale RULER

 

TechRow

 

Executive Leadership Institute (ELI)

 

Black Education Research Center (BERC)

 

Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility

CRASEL Year One Impact Report

What Students & Families Have to Say!

EMOTIONAL SAFETY & EXPRESSING FEELINGS

"When we're sad, we get to our cozy corner in the classroom. It has squishies, bean bags, books, and a bin full of paper and pencils to write about how we feel and what our emotions are. The teacher can read the note if we want them to or not. Then they talk to us about it, and we go back to learning."
 
-5th Grade Student
 

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY & CULTURAL INCLUSION

"For my child’s birthday, the teachers found Russian songs to play, even though nobody else in the class speaks Russian. My child felt so special and celebrated."
 
-Parent
 

SEL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS

"My son wasn’t talking at all before. Now he’s speaking in full sentences, asking questions, and engaging with his peers. I feel so grateful for the support he’s received here. It makes me happy every day to see his progress."
 
-Parent
 

SUPPORTIVE & RESPONSIVE  ENVIRONMENT

"The teachers always help us if we don’t understand something. They break it down step by step, and we can use anchor charts or notebooks for extra help."
 
-5th Grade Student