Schools are places where learning happens every day, but sometimes the most important lessons are about listening, understanding, and building stronger relationships. In the Meridian School District, a new initiative called Healing Circles is creating space for those conversations.

The program is made possible through a Healing Illinois Grant and will bring students, staff, families, and community members together for a series of six guided conversations designed to strengthen relationships and improve the culture of the school district.

Lisa Thomas, who is coordinating the effort, explained that the goal of the program is to move beyond the idea of individual self-care and instead focus on something larger. As she described it, the initiative is about “moving beyond self-care to collective care,” recognizing that healing and growth happen most effectively when communities work together.

The district will host six Healing Circle sessions between now and the end of June. Each session will bring together a cross-section of the Meridian community to talk openly about school climate, relationships, and ways to strengthen connections across the district.

Thomas said the idea behind the circles is rooted in a simple belief: “healing is not an individual act, but it’s a community commitment.” When people gather in a safe space to listen to one another and share experiences, they can begin to understand challenges from different perspectives and work toward solutions together.

The first Healing Circle will serve as a pilot session and will take place during the school day. Students from several grade levels will be invited to participate, with teachers helping identify two students from each grade who are interested in taking part in the conversation. Teachers, administrators, and community members will also be invited to attend.

Thomas said the goal is to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard. “We want to make sure that everyone has a voice—our students, our teachers, our families, and our community,” she explained. Creating that open space for dialogue is essential to improving school culture and strengthening the relationships that support student success.

Each Healing Circle will function as a guided discussion where participants sit together, share ideas, and reflect on ways to build stronger connections across the district. Some sessions will take place during the school day so students can participate easily, while others may be scheduled after school to allow more community members to attend.

The first conversation will be intentionally flexible, allowing participants to help shape the direction of the dialogue. Thomas said one early topic that has already been suggested focuses on learning how to better understand and accept the differences among people within the community. As she noted, part of collective care involves learning how to respect and understand the perspectives of others.

Future sessions may involve different facilitators depending on the topic being discussed. Thomas will guide the first conversation, but she expects that social-emotional learning specialists, social workers, or other staff members may help lead later discussions.

The ultimate goal of the series is not simply conversation, but progress. Thomas hopes that by the end of the six sessions, the district will have identified meaningful ways to continue strengthening the school climate and supporting students.

“My hope is that we develop that mindset of collective care,” she said, explaining that the discussions should help identify ways to improve relationships and address areas where the school community can continue to grow.

For Meridian, the Healing Circles initiative is about more than school programs. It reflects a broader belief that schools serve as hubs for the entire community.

Thomas pointed to a recent winter storm as an example of how the Meridian community already works together when challenges arise. During the storm, local residents and the larger community stepped forward to help clear snow routes so buses could safely transport students to school.

Moments like that demonstrate what can happen when people collaborate and support one another. The Healing Circles program is designed to strengthen those relationships even further.

By bringing students, educators, families, and community members into the same conversations, Meridian leaders hope to deepen trust and encourage ongoing dialogue about how to support every student.

As Thomas explained, the vision is simple but powerful: strengthening community connections, increasing opportunities for dialogue, and working together to address the needs of the district.