This Giving Tuesday, Help Students Know They’re Not Alone
Middle school can be a challenging time. As students navigate changing friendships, academic pressure, and growing expectations, they need opportunities to feel heard, build connections, and learn that they don’t have to face life’s challenges alone.
At Acknowledge Alliance, we help make those connections possible.
At Redwood Middle School, our Project Resilience 8th Grade Circles give students a dedicated space to reflect, share their experiences, listen to one another, and practice skills that support their emotional well-being. Through guided discussions, mindfulness activities, and opportunities for honest conversation, students discover that their feelings are valid and their experiences are often more shared than they realize.
The impact is clear: 8 in 10 students said they learned something about their classmates, and 80% felt the topics were meaningful and helped them to understand others better.
One student reflected on the experience:
““I like how much it taught me about the struggles in middle school, and how to deal with it. I also liked that I found out I have a lot more in common with the people around me, and that I wasn’t the only one.””
Another student shared:
““What I liked best about this group circle is how included I felt. My world just felt more colorful than it used to.””
For educators, these moments of connection matter too. One teacher described the opportunity for students to talk about everyday life as “invaluable,” while another emphasized how a facilitator’s personal connection with students helped them feel at ease.
When young people feel safe enough to share, they can begin to understand themselves and one another in new ways. They can build self-awareness, strengthen relationships, and develop healthier ways to navigate difficult emotions and everyday stress.
This Giving Tuesday, we are setting a bold but achievable goal of raising $2,000 in 24 hours to help more young people build resilience through connection. Your generosity helps Acknowledge Alliance bring relationship-centered mental health and resilience support to more young people and the caring adults who support them.
Every gift brings us closer to our goal and helps create spaces where students feel seen, heard, and connected. Together, we can help more young people develop the skills, relationships, and confidence they need not just during middle school, but for a lifetime of growth and possibility.
Will you make a gift today to help more young people build resilience through connection?
With your support, more students can discover that they belong, their voices matter, and they are not alone.
Make an even bigger impact on #GivingTuesday by inspiring others to give! Share why Acknowledge Alliance matters to you on social media and invite your friends and family to donate.