<body><div>SARASOTA, Fla. — Walking to school at Bay Haven of Basics Plus looked different on Thursday morning.They took the classroom outside for the annual Walk Forward: The Ruby Bridges Sarasota Initiative.It’s inspired by Ruby Bridges, who was the first African American child to attend a formerly all-white school in Louisiana in 1960. She walked to school alone and faced discrimination in the classroom.Katie Rose-Cianfaglione, whose kids attend Bay Haven and is the vice president of the Junior League of Sarasota, says support has grown for this walk since her oldest started kindergarten five years ago.“The kids have really driven it,” Rose-Cianfaglione said. “It was a second-grade class who were the first to push this initiative back when it began, and the kids are the ones who have been so into it.”The purpose of the walk is to teach students the importance of inclusion and diversity, especially at Bay Haven.Sarah Wertheimer, CEO of Embracing Our Differences, says that the school held historical significance during the civil rights era.“Bay Haven was one of the first schools to be desegregated, and that’s why we are so happy to be able to bring this special experience to this community,” said Wertheimer.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=107Wxq_1H208G9A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=107Wxq_1H208G9A00" width="1280" height="721" ><figcaption>The walk is inspired by Ruby Bridges, who was the first African American child to attend a formerly all white school in Louisiana in 1960. She walked to school alone, and faced discrimination in the classroom. (Spectrum News/Claire Alfree)</figcaption></figure>Their goal is to teach students not just history, but also empathy for others who may feel left out, emphasizing how Ruby Bridges had to walk along with just National Guard members surrounding her.“So these students continuing to carry that on is so meaningful because it’s a real experiential lesson for all of them,” Wertheimer said.It’s a lesson Rose-Cianfaglione is grateful for her kids experience year after year, putting themselves into Bridge’s shoes, at their age.“The fact that she, at their age, was not only walking to school, but sitting alone in the classroom for an entire year because none of the other parents would let their children go talk to her and she was alone with her teacher. I think that’s really important for teaching the kids empathy. They learn, and they can empathize with what she must have been going through,” Rose-Cianfaglione said.This walk has become an annual tradition, one that Rose-Cianfaglione hopes will help Bay Haven’s impact in the civil rights movement live on.“It’s been growing and growing over the years, and now we’re here today with full support of the school board and the committee. And they were part of bringing her here,” she added.After hearing about their annual walking tradition, Ruby Bridges made an appearance at Bay Haven on Thursday that was closed to the media. But it was a day both teachers and parents say was worth the wait.She also held a town hall at Booker High School, named after pioneer African American educator Emma E. Booker, to speak on her career in activism.</div></body>

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SARASOTA, Fla. — Walking to school at Bay Haven of Basics Plus looked different on Thursday morning. They took the classroom outside for the annual Walk Forward: The Ruby Bridges Sarasota Initiative. It’s inspired by Ruby Bridges, who was the first African American child to attend a formerly all-white...

Walk Forward tradition teaching Bay Haven students about civil rights history

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SARASOTA, Fla. — Walking to school at Bay Haven of Basics Plus looked different on Thursday morning. They took the classroom outside for the annual Walk Fo

Walk Forward tradition teaching Bay Haven students about civil rights history

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