Open Circle transitioned to a legacy program of the Wellesley Centers for Women at the end of June 2021.
After 34 years of operation,April 8, 2021
A statement about the future of Open Circle, our social and emotional learning program.
This podcast from The Wallace Foundation discusses implementing SEL language both in and out of the classroom and the importance of coaches. It features former principal of the Joyce Kilmer School, Kimberley Williams, and SEL Coach Colleen Galvin Labbe.
Kamilah Drummond-Forrester, M.A., CAGS, testified at a hearing on reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 27, 2020
The written testimony of Kamilah Drummond-Forrester, M.A., CAGS, presented to the Boston City Council Committee on Education.
Kamilah Drummond-Forrester of Open Circle discusses the importance of social and emotional wellbeing in education during at this time.
July 31, 2020
Two programs of the Wellesley Centers for Women collaborated to host a webinar that explored the roles of social technology and SEL in remote learning.
Open Circle offers virtual training and other resources for elementary school teachers, many of whom taught remotely for the remainder of the school year.
Kamilah Drummond-Forrester, M.A., CAGS, explains why she believes social and emotional learning is critical for effective implementation of restorative justice practices.
National SEED Project and Open Circle teamed up to facilitate a workshop on equity and social and emotional learning at Tufts University.
TheThe Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) partnered with The Home for Little Wanderers for the inaugural Women of Color Conference held at Wellesley College in June 2018. This program—geared toward providers who work with at-risk youth and families across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts— highlighted the importance of self-care; offered opportunities for relaxation, renewal, and inspiration; and provided a context in which to view the critical work done on behalf of young women and girls of color. The conference was spearheaded by Joan Wallace- Benjamin, Ph.D., the recently retired president and CEO of The Home, one of the largest service providers in New England dedicated to ensuring the healthy behavioral, emotional, social, and educational development, and physical wellbeing of children and families living in at-risk circumstances.
Social and emotional programs like WCW's Open Circle are helping kids to understand the difference between bullying and normal childhood conflict.
Scholars at WCW spoke at conferences and workshops on early child care and social and emotional learning, two crucial education areas.
Open Circle, provider of a unique, evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and professional development for kindergarten through Grade 5, recently announced that Kamilah Drummond-Forrester, M.A., has been promoted to director.
Research & Action Report, Spring/Summer 2014
Sallie Dunning, M.Ed., trainer and coach at Open Circle (OC), and Jen Dirga, M.S.W., OC program manager, traveled to Uganda this spring to share techniques, perspectives, and ideas around social-emotional learning (SEL) with a rural community. Dunning and Dirga worked with Beatrice Achieng Nas, BSC, director and founder of the Pearl Community Empowerment Foundation (PCEF) and a recent visiting scholar at the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW), to introduce the concept of SEL to educators, students, and families in Amor Village.
For Immediate Release: June 2, 2014
For Immediate Release: May 7, 2014
Boston.com, December 2, 2013
Nicole Leonard
Jamaica Plain Gazette, October 11, 2013
Peter Shanley
The Bay State Banner, October 11, 2013
Research & Action Report, Spring/Summer 2013
By Megan Kellett, B.A.
Open Circle, a program of the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW), is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. A social and emotional learning (SEL) program for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5, Open Circle is dedicated to providing children with the skills they need to recognize and manage their emotions, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions, develop care and concern for others, and handle challenging situations constructively.
For Immediate Release: November 30, 2012
Humane Connection, February 8, 2013
Education Week Rules for Engagement, January 23, 2013
By Nirvi Shah
Start Empathy, January 15, 2013
Laura White
School Library Journal, January 14, 2013
SLJ Staff
Education Week November 29, 2012
Tom Vander Ark
Research & Action Report, Spring/Summer 2012
Wellesley Centers for Women research and action initiatives are funded primarily by federal, state, and corporate grants and contracts. Several new and continuing projects received funding over the past six months.
Weston Patch January 16, 2012
Elizabeth S. Leaver
Research & Action Report, Spring/Summer 2011 Last year, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol Johnson identified 14 “Turnaround Schools,” described as significantly underperforming and in need of monitoring, support, and reform. Twelve of these schools were also designated by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as “Level 4” schools: those with consistently low scores and no substantial improvement over a four-year period in both English/ Language Arts and Mathematics on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).
Research & Action Report, Spring/Summer 2010
Open Circle, a program of the Wellesley Centers for Women, works with elementary school communities in New England, New York, and New Jersey to help children become ethical people, contributing citizens, and successful learners. This program helps foster the development of relationships that support safe, caring, and respectful learning communities of children and adults. The Open Circle team is currently updating its grade-differentiated curriculum to provide more support around bullying prevention and increase accessibility and applicability to urban communities. More details about these updates will be posted in the next issue of Research & Action Report.
The Boston Globe
Lisa Kocian
February 19, 2010
Wellesley Weston
Janet Mendelsohn
February 18, 2010
The Daily News Tribune (Waltham/Newton, MA)
Joyce Kelly
February 12, 2010
The Boston Globe
Letter to the Editor
February 4, 2010
Taunton Daily Gazette (Taunton, MA)
Gerry Tuoti
January 22, 2010
The Boston Globe
Nadene Stein
April 12, 2009
Billerica Minuteman
Max Bowen
April 22, 2009
February 1, 2008
Op-ed submission to the Boston Globe (unpublished)
by Pamela Seigel and James Vetter, Ed.M.
March 25, 2005
The recent shooting rampage at Red Lake High School was among the most violent episodes ever experienced in a school in the United States. Why are we not more shocked? Media reports seem more sparse and muted than with other school shootings in recent years. Could it be after the string of similar attacks by young people from Littleton, Colorado to Jonesboro, Arkansas, we have grown too accustomed to the violence and alienation this desperate act reflects? We may never know why Jeff Weise killed nine others and then himself that Monday afternoon, but we can see familiar patterns. According to press accounts, Weise was a troubled young person who reported being victimized at home and by other students. Neighbors claim that he had few friends and that few adults took the time to get to know him. In recent weeks, depression and teasing at school caused him to retreat to home tutoring. Reports of other school shootings often portray isolated loners with few social skills, excluded from the peer group. Many were targets of bullying and harassment.
Read more.