The Friendship Circle: New Inclusion

Gabby Dietz, grade 11

Friendship Circle was established in 2006 to create inclusive environments for Jewish children. It broadened to include people of all ethnicities and diverse identities. The program brings people of various abilities and interests together, organizing activities for kids and adults.

Rabbi Mordy, the executive director, founded the Friendship Circle with his wife, Rivkee. The Circle partners with schools around the city to implement inclusivity around town. The Friendship Circle partners with The Beacon – a program designed and led by teens – a space that uplifts and supports high schoolers’ mental health. The program focuses on mindfulness and self-awareness to help teenagers improve their wellbeing.

The Friendship Circle started collaborating with CAPA two years ago. The program features high school volunteers mentoring middle school students. The group meets once every month to plan for the event that month. The group meets virtually and collaborates on what they liked about the last event and want to see more of in the future event coming up, and what theme they want to focus on. There are around 15 students who mentor the middle schoolers at each event. The mentees are children with varying personalities and unique interests. There are students from every major at CAPA. The circle highlights everyone’s similarities and differences. The program not only focuses on helping within the school walls but helping beyond in students’ home lives, giving them creative freedom.

Ireland Dugan, a visual artist here at CAPA says, “It is an inclusive way to allow everyone of different interests to come together and spend an hour of their time together to get to know one another.”

The circle allows students to socialize. William Parrish, a visual artist at CAPA says, “It allows me to talk to different people who may have the same interests as me outside of school.”

The Circle aspires to teach children inclusion and identity. The Friendship Circle wishes the children to have a better support system as they grow, helping them have a smoother sail through their middle school years.