Exploring different paths and opportunities leads to growth and development. We want to provide the mental strength to our students and peers alike. In order to achieve this, we believe and practice these 10 core values.

Wisdom

Understanding

Knowledge

Kindness

Strength

Beauty

Splendor

Foundation

Kingship

Embracing knowledge and empowerment leads to brighter futures. Here at We Are Built Different Foundation, we practice an open learning initiative environment. We aim to break the school to prison pipeline within the current impoverished education systems by making them more multi-cultural and multi-global.

A school suspension program aimed at breaking the school-to-prison pipeline would shift the focus from punitive discipline to restorative, supportive, and rehabilitative approaches. Here’s a framework of what our program would look like:

Core Goals:

Interrupt punitive discipline cycles

Address root causes of behavior

Reintegrate students with support

Reduce racial and disability-based disparities in suspension

Key Components:

1. Restorative Justice Circles

Students participate in guided restorative conversations. Focus on harm caused, accountability, and rebuilding trust. Led by trained facilitators or peer mediators and partnerships with other non-profit organizations.

2. Mental Health & Counseling Support

Students meet with school administration, counselors or social workers, parents, student advocates, and mentors. Includes trauma-informed care, anger management, and conflict resolution, and referrals to outside resources as needed.

3. Academic Continuity & Inclusion

Students continue coursework during suspension in a supportive learning environment. Access to tutors or online instruction to avoid falling behind on school.

4. Family & Community Engagement

Families are involved in a reintegration plan. Referrals and intakes provided as needed. Community organizations may offer mentorship or workshops.

5. Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) Review/ IEP Plan with Waterbury Public School Systems

For students with repeated offenses, review or create a tailored BIP/IEP aimed to restore educational thriving and removal from any juvenile justice system involvement. Integrate support from special education staff if applicable or find resources available to students/parents.

Example Of Interventions:

• Transportation if it cannot be provided by parents, so students can still participate on days of suspension to ensure attendance and increase participation opportunities for students.

• Breakfast and lunch to ensure students are receiving proper nutritional needs.

• Reflection Journals: Students reflect on the incident and explore better choices.

• Skill-Building Workshops:

• Conflict resolution, communication, coping mechanisms.

• Community Service Projects”: Encourage empathy, responsibility, and accountability, example: Specific Community Project already in process:

“We Are Built Different Foundation Sustainable Squad”

This is a Green Team Community Project that is committed to empowering students and schools to become environmentally proactive through hands-on sustainability efforts and meaningful community service. We strive to cultivate leadership, foster civic responsibility, and build a greener future—one project at a time through sustainability. Once teams are active in Waterbury Public Schools there is a Pod cast lead by the students to increase social awareness and promote more people in the community to participate.

Metrics for Success:

Reduced repeat suspensions

Improved academic performance post-intervention

Decreased disciplinary disparities by race or disability

Higher student/School/ Community & Family satisfaction and inclusion in schools and outside organizations as needed.