Students presented a showcase at West Hartford’s Sedgwick Middle School highlighting the program that began in January.

Voices of Belonging Showcase in Sedgwick Middle School’s Auditorium. Photo credit: Kei Caudle

By Kei Caudle

As the school year comes to an end, VOB, or Voices of Belonging, presented a student-led showcase to display and celebrate their year’s worth of work.

Middle school students participated in the after-school program, which focused on creating a community of compassion and inclusion. The program also included Saturday morning functions and overnight trips to HBCU institutions – time spent learning about their community, determined to create a space of love and learning.  

Starting in Sedgwick’s auditorium, family and friends who attended the showcase were introduced to their program through a series of student speeches, recounting the various trips they had taken within the past year. Through heartfelt words, their challenges and experiences were told.  

Each guest was given a passport, with pages dedicated to the stations they would participate in. To reach the end, they’d be given a stamp and a raffle ticket, a ticket per participation point.  

Collage created by VOB students, formed by art about their identity. Photo credit: Kei Caudle

It began, as a group, with a student panel. In it, six students told their favorite moments of the year and what they had learned so far. They discussed moments of challenge, friendship, adventure, and education. One student discussed his first night away from home in Washington, DC, learning how to care for oneself without the help of a parent.

Close by, the Sedgwick art teacher Katie Aponte led an art therapy exercise. Previously, the VOB students had created multiple collages based on identity. The group sat around, surrounded by art supplies, and were told to create a picture of their personality. What did they enjoy, what made them unique?  

Similar to the collages, the next activity was a large mural created by the students. They had created a large painting with aspects of every culture. There were flags on the border, telling the story of various students’ origins. To continue the trend, friends and families were encouraged to place a painted handprint on the next mural, a tree waiting for its leaves. The instructor explained the concept, celebrating the diversity in the town. 

Every Saturday morning, these students would participate in physical fitness exercises and activities, using this time to create a fun atmosphere outside of school. With the 15 minutes each group had, a quick race between students and parents was organized. In individual lines, they would race against one another, trying to balance an egg on the spoon followed by pushups and jumping jacks. The blood was pumping as the adrenaline bloomed.  

Students and parents placing their handprints on the collective mural. Photo Credit: Kei caudle

After working up an appetite, a series of snacks was provided by another set of students, as they explained their cooking process. These kids were able to learn new culinary skills, designed to create a better relationship with food in the future. Soon, the groups mingled and talked over the delicious assortment of food.  

The last stop was the kindness tree, a poster full of positive affirmations written by every participant. It ranged from thanking the program to favorite quotes. A rainbow of multicolored leaves created a feeling of warmth, inviting space for quiet reflection on the beauty of the community.  

As summer break gets underway and the program begins its reset for the next school year, it’s important to remember the achievements gained by these remarkable students, formed by close bonds and a drive for a better future.  

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