Prevention Through Belonging: Creating the Conditions for Democratic Education

Belonging is often viewed as an outcome of democratic education, but what if it is one of the conditions that makes democratic education possible? This interactive session invites participants to explore the Prevention Through Belonging framework through reflection, dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving. Together, we will examine how the conditions of being safe, seen, connected, empowered, and purposeful influence learner agency and participation. Participants will explore a practical Belonging Audit, learn from one another’s experiences across diverse educational settings, and leave with ideas they can immediately adapt to strengthen democratic learning communities.