On the evening of March 10, more than 60 people attended Gorham Anti-Racism Committee’s (GARC) 3rd annual Eat and Learn Event held at Gorham High School. Young and old alike came together for a tasty meal prepared by the Gorham School Nutrition Team, and to learn more about and discuss the importance of empathy.
The event was informed by the results of a student survey that was developed and administered by GHS Student Council members to better understand the strengths and areas for improvement related to school climate and culture in Gorham schools. The voluntary survey was completed by students in grades 5 through 12, and identified bullying as an ongoing issue, with cyberbullying seemingly most pervasive. Student Council members presented their findings to GARC and assisted in brainstorming solutions, including the hosting of this community conversation.
Guests received an overview of the data, as well as explanations on the three types of empathy (compassionate, affective, cognitive), why empathy is important, how it feels, and how it appears in others. The importance of belonging was discussed amongst the participants before they broke into groups and rotated through three learning stations.
One station invited participants to brainstorm acts of kindness as part of an empathy walk. The second station gave an explanation of, tips for, and then practice with empathetic listening skills, and the third focused on how adults can best model empathetic behaviors and support youth.
“We are thrilled with the turnout,” said School Committee member Nicole Yeo-Fisher, who chairs the Anti-Racism Committee and served as a presenter at one of the learning stations.
“This event is a continuation of our commitment to fostering a culture of empathy and understanding in our school community. It was inspiring to see students, families, and community members engage in meaningful conversations with such positive energy.” Yeo-Fisher commended the members of the Community Engagement subcommittee of the GARC for their hard work and planning for such a successful evening.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees expressing a desire for longer sessions and future events.