Mover Monday | Self-Awareness

Hey MTDubberz! Today's Mover Monday features PeaceMover, Alejandra Paucar and her experiences with our talented and passionate group of Junior PeaceMovers. With the help of Alejandra, these Junior PeaceMovers are on their way to make powerful impacts on their communities! 

One of my students, Sara, expressed how she understood the importance of empathy, but she also believed that people who are empathetic and seek to understand others can sometimes unintentionally make excuses for others in the event of unfavorable behavior. By making these excuses, this unfavorable behavior becomes a continuous cycle. She used a romantic relationship as an example: "Oh, he is probably stressed because of work" or "Oh, he is acting this way because he is under a lot of pressure.” She described empathy as a "slippery slope" that can end up hurting both parties.  

I was taken aback by her insight. It was a great point to explore as a group. I asked what the rest of the group thought and they agreed. I then asked the group what they thought was the purpose of empathy. They described empathy as the means to strengthen a community by putting yourself in one another's shoes and seeking to understand where the other person is coming from. I then added that empathy should not only be seen as a way to strengthen a community through compassion but also as a way to strengthen an individual through self-awareness. Empathy empowers a community to work together harmoniously and individuals to express themselves considerately - including speaking up for yourself if you feel your feelings are not being acknowledged even after you seek to understand another's feelings and circumstances. I was so happy that Sara shared her insight because it seemed to be an unspoken topic that all the girls had in mind.

We need our kids to go back to SAFE schools

Today, I am in Baltimore to talk about a future filled with boosting self-confidence through the name pass; of sharing your favorite anger management strategy through creative movement; of choreographing a collaborative piece with fellow students you've never worked with before. Through our partnership with Baltimore City and Baltimore County Schools, we are charting a road ahead where students lead the way to peace.

This afternoon, while celebrating the first day of school and planning our September Global Training Summit,  we heard the news. Only hours into back-to-school, in lieu of school bells ringing, shots instead rung out, the sounds filling the cafeteria at Perry Hall High School -- the school where my own grandfather taught.

I have vivid memories standing in front of the Perry Hall tenth grade classroom where my grandpa was a teacher for more than two decades. I was twelve years old, and I was working the projector along with my ten-year old sister. We were leading a lesson on chemistry to teenagers eight years our seniors, using candy to bait them into paying attention to us. It was fun, though scary, to be a sixth grader in a position of leadership in a high school classroom. I loved the thrill. I felt supported by a wise grandfather by my side, a younger sister to assume the brunt of the laugher, and an empathetic classroom that welcomed us into their community straightaway. 

Now, 15 years later, it is sobering to be reminded of the immensity of our task within Dance 4 Peace. Looking at each other today, each of us silently recommitted to our mission. We know now, more than ever, that it will be hard work. But Dance 4 Peace makes the uphill battle lighthearted. We find release in sharing about tough subjects through our bodies' movement, and happiness in finding community through dance. As a member of the Baltimore community working to build safe communities and learning environments, we send D4Plove to the families and students of Perry Hall High School. 

- Sara Potler
Founder and CEO