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Randi Becker Jenson
I am first and for most a mother and grandmother. I learned that my own children were scared of the children in my special needs classroom because they didn’t understand the diversities these child...view moreI am first and for most a mother and grandmother. I learned that my own children were scared of the children in my special needs classroom because they didn’t understand the diversities these children faced. I started to give them backgrounds and explanations of their disabilities and they then formed friendships and understanding. It meant a lot to me to see the transformation. I know that my kids will teach their children and it all had to start somewhere. People who are bullied have a greater risk of suicide and this actually happened to a friend in my life. Some never outgrow the hurtful words, no matter how successful they become. I grew up in a small town in North Dakota and we didn’t have a lot of diversity at that time. I worked in a small, public school and realized that children feared the unknown, or were teased over small things they had no control over, like family income. I now live in a midsize town in Minnesota and work with families who primarily live within the federal poverty guidelines. Kindness and understanding are key to working with this population. It became my passion to help where I saw a community need.view less