A Living Ecosystem for Inclusive Change
There is no single way to enter The Belonging Project. Some people begin with a single course. Some start with leadership learning or a consultation cycle. Some simply explore the stories inside Unity Pathways School Division. Every entry point matters. Every step builds capacity.
The Belonging Project is designed as a learning ecosystem. Each part can stand alone, but together they help schools move beyond random acts of inclusion and into a culture where belonging is expected, supported, and lived every day.​ Below, you will find the core components of the ecosystem. You can begin wherever it makes sense for you.
Courses and Learning Modules ​
Interactive, story-based learning that gives educators, educational assistants, and leaders practical tools for inclusive design. Courses also include family, peer, and student materials so learning reaches beyond the classroom.
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What this layer builds
Shared language for inclusion
Practical classroom strategies
Family and community understanding
Student voice and peer leadership​
Collaborative Inclusive Design ​
Teams apply what they learn. Teachers, support staff, and consultants ask new questions, try
new ideas, and design environments where
learners can participate with dignity.
This layer also reimagines the role of
consultants and educational assistants with their work framed in the social model of disability.
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What this layer builds
Co-design instead of correction
Access and Belonging Plans for students and teams
A shared approach to problem-solving
A stronger more professionalized support workforce
Leadership Integration​
Principals and system leaders shape the conditions where belonging can grow. Leadership becomes relational, reflective, and responsive rather than directive. Leaders use Listening Rounds, Story Circles and Reflective Supervision. These practices help teams learn from experience, see progress, and stay connected to their values.
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What this layer builds
Trust and psychological safety
Consistency across classrooms
Alignment of structures and supports
The Story Exchange​
Stories make change visible. Podcasts, blog posts, and social media share real examples of learning, success, and growth. When a division tells its own stories, people see what is possible and feel part of something bigger.
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What this layer builds
Shared identity
Community pride
Hope and momentum
Transparency in practice
Seeing Inclusion in Action
Unity Pathways is a fictional Alberta school division that brings The Belonging Project to life. It reflects the range of schools and communities seen across the province and shows inclusion in real practice.
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Unity Pathways is woven throughout the ecosystem:
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The division pages show system design and alignment
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School pages show collaboration and school culture
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Classroom stories show daily inclusive practice with individual students and teams
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Unity Pathways is not perfect. It is a learning system. Inclusion is a journey, not a finish line, and the stories reflect both progress and struggle.
How Change Happens
Good ideas alone do not transform systems. They need support, alignment, and reflection over time. Implementation science gives a roadmap for how real change happens in schools. The Belonging Project applies that roadmap, and Unity Pathways shows what it looks like in practice.
Three core drivers guide the work
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Competency Drivers: professional learning, coaching, reflection, practice
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Organization Drivers: structures and systems that remove barriers
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Leadership Drivers: relational, adaptive leadership that protects the vision
When these drivers work together, schools move from compliance to coherence. Inclusion becomes a culture everyone shares, not a task that rests on a few.
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Belonging then becomes a measurable outcome, reflected in four dimensions of flourishing:
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Cognitive: curiosity, engagement, confidence
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Emotional: safety, regulation, hope
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Spiritual: purpose, dignity, contribution
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Social: connection, reciprocity, community
How Everything Connects
You do not need to use every part of the ecosystem to begin. A single course, a consultation cycle, a leadership learning community, or even a podcast episode can shift understanding and practice.
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But when these pieces come together, something powerful happens:
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Learning fuels collaboration
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Collaboration shapes leadership
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Leadership protects the vision
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Stories make the learning visible
This is how belonging becomes more than a belief. It becomes daily practice. It becomes culture. It becomes the way people learn and live together.