The REAL Framework

The REAL Framework emerged from the collective wisdom of frontline educators and student leaders in the Upper Valley who were working with equity and climate change issues. In-depth interviews with these educators and students revealed that social-emotional learning is as important as other core academic knowledge and skills when it comes to meeting the challenges of climate change and its inherent inequities. While state and national standards provide the building blocks for addressing climate and equity issues, they need to be placed in a meaningful context to matter to students. The REAL Framework is designed to empower the hearts of students and help them use these academic building blocks wisely and effectively to create a healthier future for all.

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The REAL framework begins with nurturing Relationships with self, community, and nature. Considering those relationships, we explore Equity narratives and paradigms that influence how living communities experience and respond to climate change. From there, we move to Action, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the context of place to change the dynamics of extractive systems to more regenerative systems. The final component, Leadership, is an invitation for both educators and students to amplify their impact through collective action, recognizing that we need to encourage the voices and gifts of others to participate in climate resilience.

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The REAL components naturally scaffold. As relationships develop, so does understanding and caring. From this foundation, a clearer view emerges of the systems which connect self, others, and nature. These systems might include flows of energy, resources, power, and other forces. When investigated, inequities or unhealthy imbalances in our environmental and social systems become more apparent. To change this dynamic, informed action is needed. To change the dynamic more broadly and deeply, leadership is essential.