2: Shredquity and Belonging: The Skate Club Program at The Juniper School

The school-based Skate Club program at The Juniper School in Durango, CO, emerged from the urgent youth mental health crisis and related challenges such as student disengagement, isolation, and a lack of agency. The school itself faced difficulties including poor academic performance and low retention rates. The initiative began as a way to connect with one struggling student, based on the hypothesis that an emotional connection could boost school attendance and engagement. Central to the program is the concept of shredquity, defined as providing equitable access to activities fostering community, self-awareness, and self-improvement. The core hypothesis posits that students who feel a strong sense of belonging are more engaged and less disruptive. Outcomes, based on student interviews, show the Skate Club significantly enhanced their sense of community and belonging, acting as a strong motivator for attending school. Students reported that the program fostered new friendships and improved existing ones and broke down cliques. Through sequenced failure, students developed grit, persistence, and risk-taking skills that transferred to the classroom and life. The Skate Club program is a low-cost initiative offering substantial impact for disengaged young adolescents.