llowing us on social media to see what we're up to over the summer. for our entire team, i'm charles davis. we'll see you next time. (funky music) good morning, and welcome to

mosaic. i am honored to be your host this morning. across our country local communities spend a lot of time thinking about diversity and in particular how communities can educate their young people to an inclusive society. we like to invite you into a wonderful organization with an organization called beyond differences. we got the executive director and the superintendent of the san rafael supreme district -- school district. let's talk about, what is beyond differences? >> thank you for having us. beyond differences is a student leadership organization exclusively dedicated to ending social isolation in middle school. i think all of your viewers will remember that moment when they feel terribly left out or remember that one

child that always seemed to sit by themselves, and that is what we are working to change. the culture of middle school so everyone feels accepted and included each day. >> how do you, as a superintendent, see how beyond differences actually functions in the classroom and school district? >> you see students that felt left out and by bringing awareness to other students, they know those kids that spend their time in the library, the bathroom or away from other students, and by bringing awareness, what we know is that there is medical evidence that finds that students who are socially isolated later have impacts in their only. so what we've been able to do is educate young people through the use of our community in moraine, the east bay in the portland area to educate students how they can help and how they can

impact. >> before we get too far can you talk a little bit about the inception of beyond differences? >> unfortunately it is a tragic story for my family, i had a daughter that passed away at 15 1/2 due to a medical condition she was born with. it left her face with disfigurement, if you will, and when she was in middle school it became particularly obvious to her and her classmates that because of her differences she began to feel left out. when she passed away in her sleep and were exactly those children who approach me afterwards and said, you know, we didn't know we were leaving lily out, we feel so sad about this and want to do something in her honor . it was then and there that those young students

stepped up and came to me and said, we will do something to speak to other children and make sure they don't ever have to go through what lily went through to read >> how extraordinary that a peer group of that age could be so reflective and come to the mother of one of their fellow peers and really talk about their situation. >> it was extraordinary. we didn't expect to be where we are six years later with such a robust program. it speaks to the vision and wisdom of those children but also to the need that we've seen over the last six years which continues to grow and grow and unfold for both mike and i and the rest of the board. and for the teachers all over the united states who are working with our materials. >> when we talk about leadership development in the school district, can you talk a little concretely about what actually happens and what are the

programs? >> in a couple of minutes you will meet two of our high school board members who mentor the middle school students. we have programs that we run from growing in the middle schools, two assembly programs and growing programs that teachers can use. we also scale national holidays and mike will talk about some popular programs. >> we began with the program called no one eats alone. you see? that's to -- that sit together, and this is set up so students approach other students to play games, have conversations or something that is more inclusive that makes them feel part of the school program. we are very proud over the last several years is that we now tied 1100 schools with the programs that beyond

differences is offering. you see that kids are aware and adults are aware, and they are providing opportunities for the children to know what to do. so they can develop an appreciation for children that are different eyes and they begin to develop empathy. >> we are going to take a quick break and come back in just a moment. please join us in just a moment.

good morning and welcome to mosaic. we are in the middle of a wonderful conversation with beyond differences. this organization started here and has become national and works on inclusivity of young people. welcome carl and sophia, two of the leaders of beyond differences. let's jump in and ask, how did you become involved with beyond differences? >> we've both been involved for about four years, i started in eighth grade with the first year of the middle school program. when i got involved i was kind of thinking, what am i doing here, i might be a little too cool for this. once we started

no one eats alone, i think we had the second one in our school, they said, do you want to dj for this event? and i said, yeah. i love music. so i did that and played music at lunch every day and saw people becoming friends with people they never really met before or talked to before. that was the moment where i understood that we are actually making a difference and i have a purpose within this organization and that is what skyrocketed me into what i'm doing now. >> sophia, how did you get involved? >> my sister was part of the board before i was and she joined because i was socially isolated in middle school. when i saw her doing it i knew it was my duty to help others feel more included in middle school and not feel the way i felt. >> so how does it actually work?

what do you actually do as leaders? >> we do a lot of hands-on work, going to assemblies, mentoring middle schoolers, having conversations with them. behind the scene, fundraising, social media work and things like that. >> we also participate in conferences around the bay area and the country. i've done the things like internet safety conferences and i've spoken to educators about how to mediate and see what is going on in terms of their classrooms and what students are doing to treat each other in certain ways. we are also educating adults at the same time at the same time as we educate the students to read >> that is so fantastic. i have a big question. it's not usual that we get a chance to talk

with folks with your life experience. why do kids, young adults in your age group, feel isolated, what is that? >> in middle school people are really exploring who they want to be, who they see themselves as and that can cause a lot of problems when it comes to friends having to separate because they think one person might be into something they are not and that's weird. a lot of problems develop because people think there are differences when we really should be accepting each other's differences and celebrate them. >> it is natural for sort of everybody to try to figure out, what are my gifts and where is my place in the world. that begins in early ages and

certainly progresses in middle school, high school and beyond. so the work is to let people know that it is okay to get to know who you are and you can be different but you are still part of a group. is that part of the undercurrent of what goes on? >> absolutely. the biggest thing about beyond differences is celebrating our differences instead of judging each other based upon those differences. we want everybody to be together and celebrate the way we are unique. >> even today in our political atmosphere, just because of the presidential election, from your experience and the ways in which you've grown, what is important

to understand about the ways in which people are different and what is important for society to really grapple with? >> i think it is really important for society to respect each other's differences. be inclusive in the way that knowing everyone is different and coming together as people to move forward in our everyday lives to celebrate everyone's differences instead of segregating ourselves. >> believe it or not, we have just a moment before break. carl, can i ask you, one thing that you've learned about yourself as a result of being beyond differences? >> one of the things i've learned not just about myself but people in general is that the little things that happen to you really matter. i was socially isolated in middle school because i liked the dodgers because i came from los

angeles. i think that the way that somebody is influenced by tiny little things, whether the fact that you are short, you are too tall, that can affect you deeply even though it seems like something very tiny. and everybody should always remember that even though you may think you are all tough and mighty, the little things can really dig deep in you. >> i'm from los angeles and i love the dodgers. thank you so much for being with us. we will be back in just a moment.

welcome back to mosaic. we are in the middle of a wonderful conversation about an organization that started here in the bay area and has become national and works on inclusivity in our society with high school and middle school students. well, the executive director of beyond differences and carl, you are a high school leader. can we continue this conversation and ask you in ways that beyond differences moved into the national landscape. >> three years ago we took a popular program called no one eats alone and scaled it through social media and through word-of-mouth and ended up in over 1100 schools. we send out free backpacks to any school in the united states that would like to do no one eats alone and

specifically picked valentine's day as a day to run no one eats alone because it is a day that seems the hardest for students don't -- that don't have any friends in school. so why not celebrate the holiday by making friendships more important. this fall we are launching a new curriculum called know your classmates which was modeled after president obama's white house initiative called know your neighbors. and we've been partnering with our friends in the muslim american community to create a new curriculum and we will be celebrating that day october 21st. >> carl, storytelling is so important for people to really understand what a program actually is and what it means. can you tell a story about any of your experiences as a leader? >> for me the most influential

story that had the biggest impact on me was when i was at an assembly a couple of years ago and i was leading a group of about 20 kids, sixth-graders. and i ask them as i ask any other group, i said, can you share a story about a time when you are socially isolated or when you socially isolated somebody else or you saw it happen? nobody really raise their hand until this little kid next to me did. he said, i've been bullied all my life because i'm short. and that kind of took me aback and i was thinking to myself, it's kind of a no big deal kind of thing and i kind of looked back at him and sought tears streaming down his face. that's when i realized that little things matter, as i said before. i put my hand on

his shoulder and was kind of lost for words. at that point the other 19 kids kind of joined in and do their best to make him feel better and include them in the group. i think that was probably one of the most beautiful moments i've seen, the kids going ahead and taking the initiative to include the others that feel left out. >> i'm just so curious to know, for you in that moment, is there some way that made you different the next time you're with a kid , hearing what they had to say about social isolation? >> it totally changed my perspective on how social isolation works and how it can be such a wide variety of things. and how i am actually making a difference. it was one

of those indicators, i can actually do this and it is possible to get people to include each other. >> as i listen to you it seems to me that there is something about how your empathic stretched work gave you more internal confidence as a human being to take other forms of leadership to speak up and articulate things that you see and try to change in interaction. is that fair to say? >> all of it. yes. that's perfect. >> laura, i can imagine in the dream you had of this organization that there is so much you've learned and have seen. i'm wondering if you can talk a little bit about the differences that you've seen that may be surprised you, warmed your heart or really have been significant in this big issue of inclusivity.

>> it is very big and i think it is getting bigger every day. you reference the political atmosphere in which we are living and the amount of anxiety that children are really internalizing when they show up to school every day because of current events and being afraid of differences. the earlier we can get to children and teach them, the more we can celebrate differences and get to know one another as human beings, the more leadership it will create among all children in the united states. we don't want to victimize kids for feeling different. we want to create leaders and make it cool to include, and we need to create a society where we are grooming children to become leaders. that's my goal and dream . it is a big mission but we are all in this together. i see so much evidence that other organizations are doing the same. >> we are going to take a quick

break and come back in just a moment.

welcome back to mosaic. we are in the middle of a wonderful conversation with beyond differences and would like to welcome back sophia, one of the high school leaders and dr. michael, the superintendent of schools in the san rafael school district. michael, we are going

to and our conversation in a short while but before we do, can you talk a little bit about beyond differences. >> what started out as a small organization in marin county has become a national movement. the goal is that every student feels accepted. as one of our cofounders said, this really is a social movement that we see among the youth of this community. when many of us look back on our middle school experiences, it is usually not pleasant. our goal is to change that and make sure that it is a place where all kids feel safe, healthy and welcome. we had early supporters from the marin county foundation and our county superintendent and now we feel like we are really going national so we can bring in and to social isolation. >> how-tos beyond differences get their support? >> we have a few major donors

like at&t, the san francisco giants and worriers and we also get donations all over, from everyone. we are currently trying to raise money, and it is very exciting, trying to reach goals and things like that. >> before we say goodbye , how does somebody actually get in touch with beyond differences and access the curricular structures? >> all of our programs are free and if people are interested in getting a toolkit for know your classmates or no one eats alone, just contact our website or our offices in san rafael. and all of these programs are free to schools so we really rely on the kindness of others for donations and support so we can reach more and more students across the country and beyond. >> as a last thought for you, sophia, can you talk a little

bit about how you feel like it has changed you and the way you are as a person? >> it definitely makes me more aware of my surroundings. you see in everyday life people being isolated and is now makes me more inclined to go up to these people and really walk the talk. that's what i really learned and it really has changed me as a person. >> michael, in a word, can you save one thing you've seen in your capacity of change? >> by bringing awareness to the adults it also brings awareness to the students because it is something we all see and we all know about but it has now provided people with the tools to do something about it. that is where the change begins. >> thank you so much for being so articulate about this issue and the wonderful organization, beyond differences. shall we

talk about, just a little bit about what your hopes are and what you think of for your own self, beyond high school? >> i really hope i can come back and when i have children, so they won't have to go through what kids go through today and hopefully, our greater goal is to ban social isolation and middle schools and high schools. >> that would be wonderful. michael, is that something you've seen in the work? >> i see it happening. it really touches something for anybody who has had that experience. in public schools we see it every day and we want to keep making sure that it ends. >> thank you so much. keep talking about beyond differences. thank you so much.

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from cbs news bay area, this is the morning edition . it was not the welcome back to school the parents in oakland expected. what was found in the water in close to two