BELONG Partners is an education equity nonprofit that believes in a future where everyone thrives because they know they matter and belong.
Our education partners describe the impact of working with us.
For 15 years, we’ve partnered with schools and organizations predominately in marginalized communities, across the Pacific Northwest, to build equitable communities where students have dignity, voice, and agency.
Our unique approach challenges traditional practices and systems in education and youth-serving organizations that rely on compliance, punishment, rewards, and exclusion. We work alongside educators and youth workers, forging strong relationships over time that challenge the status quo and ignite transformative change.
Our approach integrates brain science, trauma-responsive, culturally relevant, and restorative practices, with social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies. Partnering with us enables schools and youth-serving organizations to shift adult mindsets, cultivate equitable communities where students thrive academically and socially, and shrink racial disparities.
In addition to partnering with schools and districts, we offer workshops and consulting services for youth-serving organizations and adults seeking trauma-informed, practical, data-driven mindset and systems change.
As BELONG Partners evolves, our vision and purpose remain unwavering: building equitable communities that center the dignity, voice, and agency of young people, so that everyone thrives because they know they matter and belong.
You can support our innovative work with educators, youth workers, parents, and caregivers here.
Vision, Purpose, Approach, and Values
Our Vision
We believe in a future where everyone thrives because they know they matter and belong.
Our Purpose
We build equitable communities that center the dignity, voice, and agency of young people.
Our Approach
We partner with schools and organizations to transform the ways adults teach, parent, and care for youth, by bringing together science-based, trauma-informed, restorative, and social emotional learning practices.
Our Values
Our values have continued to evolve and grow as well. They reflect our commitment to a vision of the future where everyone thrives because they know they matter and belong.
- Connection: We are rooted in relationships.
- Courage: We lead from the heart and challenge the status quo.
- Liberation: We work together to create a world that works for everyone because our freedom, joy, and struggles are deeply connected.
Our Rebrand
During 2022 – 2023, we took a collective journey with our board, staff, and stakeholders to rebrand our organization from Sound Discipline to BELONG Partners. We updated our name, organizational language, and visual identity to align with the evolution of our vision, purpose, approach, and values.
2024 – 2028 Strategic Plan
With the input of our community, staff, and board, and in the face of prevalent issues in the education system, we began the process of creating a new strategic plan in 2023. The need for our services has become more urgent than ever before, and our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan positions us to meet those needs and plan for future growth. Learn more about our plans.
BELONG Partners by the Numbers
Today, we work with approximately 5,000 adults who, in turn, care for or teach 75,000 young people.
We have partnered with more 15,000 educators and 56 school communities in four states – Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California – to integrate social-emotional learning and restorative practices into classrooms, schools, and districts.
One of our longest participating middle schools had a 9.2% reduction in students excluded from the classroom in response to a behavioral violation in one year (from 12.7% to 3.5%).
One of our Whole School partners reduced student discipline referrals by an average of 15%, resulting in students spending more time in class, learning and developing academic and social skills.
In 2023, 93% of participating educators surveyed agreed that using BELONG Partners teaching and discipline practices reduces inequities based on student identity.
The Co-Founders
Terry Chadsey and Dr. Jody McVittie co-founded Sound Discipline in 2007. Read more about how they challenged practices and systems used in education.