Student-led summit engaged community leaders in empathy-driven dialogue

ROCHESTER - Spaulding High School recently became the epicenter of a powerful civic conversation as students, educators, and local leaders gathered for Bridge the Gap--a student-led civic dialogue summit hosted by BridgeUSA Spaulding, the school's chapter of a national organization committed to promoting empathy-driven dialogue among young people.

Founded this academic year by Spaulding students Gavin Boudreau and Caleb Reavis, the club was built on the belief that constructive conversations--especially across political and ideological divides--are essential to the health of democracy. The event reflected that mission with a bold question posed to the audience:

"Are you proud to call yourself an American?" Gavin asked in his opening remarks."At your core, deep down in your bones, are you proud to call this place home?"

Over the course of the event, around 35 Spaulding High students engaged in guided conversations with each other and with community members around two central topics:

• Mental Health in the Community
• School Pride and Civic Identity

Discussion warm-ups focused on the role of empathy in decision-making, while deeper conversations explored teen mental health resources, the impact of school pride, and strategies for bridging generational and civic divides.

The event yielded several notable and revealing outcomes:

• Community leaders gained critical insight into the daily struggles facing local teens. One attendee expressed genuine surprise, stating: "I had no idea that students thought about these things--governmental and social issues. I didn't realize they were so political."
• Many participants left with a more open-minded perspective on mental health and youth advocacy.
• Students reported feeling more connected to local civic issues, recognizing how their personal challenges mirrored broader community struggles in Rochester.
• A key takeaway was the need for increased local funding and support to address social and community issues at their roots.
• Above all, participants walked away with a deeper understanding of how dialogue builds empathy--and how critical that is to sustaining a healthy democracy.