Virtual Conference Featured Keynote
Building Bridges for Beloved Community
Date: October 31, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM UTC
Workshop Description
Becoming a Bridge Builder for Beloved Community
In today’s global context, international school counselors are uniquely positioned to help students bridge differences and create opportunities for connection, healing, and growth. This keynote offers an inspiring, heart-centered invitation to step into the role of bridge builder—fostering equity, belonging, and emotional safety across school communities.
Grounded in Meena’s original Bridge building Framework and aligned with the ISCA Student Standards, this session explores how Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) serves as the how of cultivating empathy, communication, cultural competence, and inclusive school climates. It uplifts SEL not just as a tool, but as a path to building Beloved Community—where everyone in the school community feels seen, valued, and supported.
Drawing on stories, research, and practices—including Meena’s work on tenderness—participants will explore professional qualities like warmth, genuineness, and compassion as essential capacities for creating emotionally safe, globally aware learning environments.
Attendees will leave with:
- A practical framework for bridging differences
- Strategies aligned with ISCA’s SEL and identity development standards
- Tools to support whole-school, equity-centered SEL
Uplifting and actionable, this keynote asks: What is one bridge you are ready to build?
About the Speaker
Meena Srinivasan is a former school administrator, international school educator, National Board Certified Teacher, and globally respected leader in mindfulness, SEL, and belonging. She is the founding Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL) and CEO of Karuna Consulting. Named one of Mindful magazine’s Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement, Meena’s TEDx talk on tenderness has over 2 million views. She helps schools worldwide create compassionate, equity-centered environments rooted in social-emotional and contemplative practices.
