The School of Human Ecology and the Education and Research in Children’s Health (ENRICH) Center in the College of Education and Human Sciences recently hosted the Bruce Everist Community Event, bringing together educators, students, and local organizations to explore how belonging shapes children’s development and learning.
“The ENRICH Center and our programs in the School of Human Ecology encourage students to engage in the community, gain field experience, and contribute to helping kids and families in our area,” Dr. Matthew Thornton, director of the School of Human Ecology, said. “Not only did attendees connect with great resources, they also gained access to research-based information about how rejection impacts kids and how fostering belonging in classrooms can make a difference.”
The evening featured a community resource fair, the premiere screening of the documentary Belonging, and an expert discussion with Dr. Amanda Harrist, Emeritus Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Oklahoma State University. The event built upon themes from a previous documentary, Rejected, continuing a research project examining how children’s early experience of acceptance or rejection influence their development over time.
“This is a film we’ve been working on for a long time, and I think the message is very timely,” Harrist said. “Every child deserves the right to be part of a group. Belonging is a basic human need, and teachers can play a huge role in ensuring that every child in their classroom feels included.”
Human Development and Family Sciences student, TerriLynn Cloud, shared how the event offered valuable insight into children’s development and the long-term effects of belonging.
“I hope attendees learned how a child’s mind grows as they get older and how early experiences shape that,” Cloud said. “This event was also a great way to connect community partners and show what resources and organizations are available to support child development.”
Harrist also explained that research demonstrates the tangible effects of rejection on children’s brains.
“When you experience exclusion or social pain, your brain reacts in the same way it does to physical pain,” she added. “Those emotions interfere with learning and children can’t focus on reading or math if they feel lonely or ignored. Supporting emotional health and social relationships is essential to academic success.”
The Bruce Everist Community Event was funded by the Bruce Everist Lecture Series and supported by the ENRICH Center, which serves as a catalyst for improving health outcomes for children through research, education, and outreach.