From The Blog

Be the Change — As (Almost) Seen on Shark Tank

Did you know that Be The Change was almost seen on Shark Tank? With all that has happened this past year with COVID, protests, and politics, we knew it was the time to get our story out there and our mission supported. And in 2021, what better way to get the word out than to submit to be on Shark Tank?

While the content was serious, we enjoyed documenting our story to the ‘Sharks’. Suffice to say we did not meet our 15 minutes of fame, but we are still going strong and committed to being the change we want to see in the world!

So here it is, our brief, yet riveting almost-appearance on Shark Tank. Hey Mark Cuban if you are reading this blog, we would love for you to spark the change in 2022!

Sangita… Not Sangula

When Sangita Kumar, founder and CEO of Be the Change was in fourth grade, she wanted some of the kids from her class to come over for a playdate. Unfortunately, they never made it there because they never learned her name. She had a lot of conversations that went like this:

Sangita: Hi! My name is Sangita.

Other child: Sangula?

Sangita: No, Sangita.

Other child: Sangina?

Sangita: No, Sangita!

Other child: Oh, I know! How about this? I’ll call you Sunny!

Sangita: What? No! My name is not Sunny. My name is Sangita!

The worst part is that the teachers around her didn’t intervene. If Sangita’s teacher had had access to a culturally responsive curriculum, her students would have started the year playing Group Juggle, Community Cheer, Pieces of Me, or one of the hundreds of activities that teach young people to learn names and build community. But unfortunately, the teacher didn’t have these activities, so instead, Sangita spent most of fourth grade being teased, “Sunny, Sunny Delights!”

Names are important. If you know Sangita’s name, you’ll understand her nose ring. You’ll understand the food that’s in her lunchbox. And you’ll understand why you take your shoes off when you come over to her house.

Because of her childhood experiences, Sangita became committed to building a more inclusive world, one where kids and adults alike would respect each other’s cultures and experiences. She ultimately used that commitment to create much-needed social-emotional learning curriculums for grades 3-12 and start Be the Change Consulting.

A Missed Opportunity to Teach About Racial Injustice and Allyship

Tanya Mayo, a proud mother of four school-aged children and co-owner and COO of Be the Change, had another experience showing the need for new culturally responsive curriculum resources last year.

During a classroom assignment, Tanya’s son’s teacher asked the students to stand for the pledge of allegiance as part of a vocabulary activity. Inspired by Colin Kaepernick, Tanya’s son took a knee in silent protest. But when none of his peers joined, he was embarrassed and alone.

Sadly, Kekoa’s teacher missed this teachable moment to highlight how Black boys in America experience racial injustice and how other students could have been an ally to him. She, like many other well-intentioned teachers, didn’t have the training, the resources, or the curriculum to handle these moments.

The Lack of DEI Education Isn’t a New Problem

The need for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education is not new. In 1963, in a racially divided country, the news that John F. Kennedy was shot while riding in a motorcade through downtown Dallas rippled across America. The images are forever seared in the psyche of anyone old enough to remember.

The JFK moment of our generation is undoubtedly the eight minutes and 46 seconds captured on a bystander’s cell phone of the killing of George Floyd. If we act decisively, this moment has the possibility to be a turning point in America.

But teachers need resources and curriculum to meet this moment. They just can’t do it alone!

The Beginning of Be the Change

Sangita was once that teacher trying to make it work without resources. She remembers trying to figure it out alone, well-intentioned, overworked, underpaid, and desperate to find lessons to help her students share their stories, engage in problem-solving, and stand up for their beliefs. She looked and she looked, but it just wasn’t out there.

So she wrote her own lesson. Then she wrote another, and then another. Then the teachers down the hall started asking her for copies of her lessons, and she knew that she was onto something. That’s when Be the Change was born.

Our business is a training and curriculum development company that has been centered in educational equity for over a decade now. Our curriculums are used in schools and youth development programs nationally. We help children explore identity, build community, and cultivate a sense of justice and equity to create engaged citizens of the world.

Be the Change now has over a thousand lessons to build community, teach diversity, and develop a growth mindset, which is essential for workplace success. Each lesson is packaged in easy-to-read workbooks and activity card boxes to make teaching as easy as possible.

A Youth Development Curriculum For Our Current Moment

Be the Change’s tools are more relevant today than they have ever been. In the fall, students who have been isolated through Zoom school, many of them struggling with depression and social anxiety, will return to classrooms in deep need of community building. Teachers are going to need easy-to-use social-emotional learning and culturally responsive equity education curriculum to help their students reconnect and make sense of all the recent events.

Be the Change is poised to help at this moment. We’re now going digital so we can meet even more teachers’ needs. Some of our training and workshops are already virtual, and we’re adding even more web-based options which will be available soon.

So, who wants to stand on the right side of history with us? Check out our curriculum resources to get started!

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Lisette Ostrander

Director of Education at Beyond Differences

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Sarah Wan

Executive Director at CYC

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Priscilla Parchia

Program Manager, Expanded Learning

AM

Ay'Anna Moody

Director, Social Impact & Generation Thrive

RL

Rodd Lee

Assistant General Manager, External Affairs

EG

Erin Gutiérrez

Director of Learning & Development

AB

Ariana Bayer

Manager of Family Programs

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Pam Connie

JN

Jill Nielsen

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Felix Caraballo

PMB

P. Marcia Brown

DG

Deanna Grant-Curtis

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Carla Williams-Namboodiri

Profesora de Inglés y Humanidades, Escuela Bilingüe Internacional Middle School English and Humanities Teacher

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Mei Ann Teo

Assoc Artistic Director, Director of New Work, Oregon Shakespeare Festival

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Anonymous

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

I am the Director of Education for Beyond Differences. I worked with Fong in the late summer/ fall of 2020. Fong coached me as I prepared to launch an educator cohort series in NYC and FL for close to 70 educators. My primary goals were to build an intentional learning community, support Read More

LO

Lisette Ostrander

Director of Education at Beyond Differences

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

When developing capacity for my team of 100+ staff, Be the Change Consulting is our go-to organization. Whether I need guidance for our newly hired direct service staff or non-profit veterans from our leadership team, I trust in BTCC to offer the groundwork to address all our needs. They Read More

SW

Sarah Wan

Executive Director at CYC

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

We have been using the Building Intentional Communities Curriculum for a decade now and continue to come back for more curriculum, more PD, and support. We have continued, renewed, and recommended BTCC’s services because they are exactly what our communities need. Thoughtful, communal, Read More

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Priscilla Parchia

Program Manager, Expanded Learning

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

This year we were excited to partner with Be the Change Consulting, Hellman Foundation and the Walter & Elise Haas Senior Fund to launch a virtual training series just as the pandemic hit and the shelter in place order was announced. We wanted to offer relevant and responsive training and Read More

AM

Ay'Anna Moody

Director, Social Impact & Generation Thrive

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Dynamic…diverse…engaging…extraordinary…innovative…inclusive. Those are just a few terms that describe Be the Change Consulting.

Their team of highly skilled professionals, exceptionally led by Sangita Kumar, assisted BART with extensive outreach and in-depth engagement with Read More

RL

Rodd Lee

Assistant General Manager, External Affairs

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Be the Change Consulting has been a key partner over the years providing training and support that tends to both content expertise and humanizing processes. The workshops are engaging, thought-provoking, and grounded in the latest academic research, and I most appreciate that their facilitators Read More

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Erin Gutiérrez

Director of Learning & Development

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Participating in Be The Change Consulting’s Antiracism capacity building series has supported tremendous growth for me professionally through the development of an anti-racist perspective and actions, from big picture project goals and assessments all the way down to how our team opens Read More

AB

Ariana Bayer

Manager of Family Programs

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Excellent and I attend a LOT of these training sessions. Well organized. Clear and courageous content.

PC

Pam Connie

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

I really appreciated the hands on skills at the end of the session.
Very engaging and extremely informed – presented material in an accessible and interesting manner.

I would recommend at least 3 hours for this training.

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Jill Nielsen

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

It’s a different facilitation style that you have but I can see how it works. It’s a much more human experience, rather than a student teacher discussion. I’m impressed.

Great Job.

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Felix Caraballo

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Thank you for demonstrating your passion: Be The Change; was evident. I appreciate the copy of the PP.

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P. Marcia Brown

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

I love this organization. Their curriculum is some of the best I’ve ever used! Tried and true.

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Deanna Grant-Curtis

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

I adapted the Lemonade activity from your Ice Breakers and Team Builders to Build Social-Emotional Skills for my advisory yesterday. Used the watering pot like a spin the bottle. After saying something they wanted to wash away from the week, they sprinkled water onto the classroom plants. I ❤ Read More

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Carla Williams-Namboodiri

Profesora de Inglés y Humanidades, Escuela Bilingüe Internacional Middle School English and Humanities Teacher

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

I am taking away the way that capitalism and racism are inextricable in causing our micro and macro aggressions against each other. I’m sitting deeply with how the sense of urgency stems from perfectionism and also how it perpetuates how we treat each other as cogs in the wheel instead of Read More

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Mei Ann Teo

Assoc Artistic Director, Director of New Work, Oregon Shakespeare Festival

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Appreciate y’all Aminta & Thomas! I wish we could combine our collective superpowers in facilitating.

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What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

It was really helpful to have to say the actual words. Because it highlighted an issue that could have easily been glossed over- Thank you group.

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What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Thank you all for an amazing learning experience.

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What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Thank you so much. These strategies are really helpful and actionable!!

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Anonymous

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Thank you for this extremely enriching experience!

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Anonymous

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Thank you for a great session. This has been really informative and helpful.

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Anonymous

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Thanks y’all. I am leading a capacity building cohort of 49 orgs. I am definitely going to share your info with them and explore with the foundation partners funding options for this work. Thank you!!!!! Love all of it 🙂

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Anonymous

What Folx SayWhat folx (people of all genders) say about our work:

Facilitating techniques are great. They are great!

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Anonymous

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