Doves Arcana

E.L.S.AEmotional Literacy in Schools Act

"We teach kids everything - except how to be human."We teach them to multiply, write essays, and follow rules — but not how to understand their feelings, speak their truth, or navigate pain.
So they grow up with diplomas in
hand... and no language for what's going on inside."Every year we graduate emotional illiteracy with honors."It shows in broken relationships, emotional shutdowns, addiction, self-harm, disconnection, and violence.
The outer world is a reflection of our
inner wounds — and we're raising
generations who've never been taughthow to heal.ELSA is the shift. It's how we stop
raising kids who perform and start raising kids who feel, connect, and lead with empathy.Because when we teach feelings, we save lives. And when we change what
we teach - we change the world.

This story was inspired by the ELSA initiative, shining a light on every feeling. Your support helps bring materials to classrooms and keep this vision alive—thank you for helping feelings find their star!

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What is E.L.S.A?

The Emotional Literacy in Schools Act(ELSA) is a movement to bring
emotional education into every
California classroom.It ensures students learn how to
recognize emotions, regulate their nervous systems, communicate their needs, and understand others.ELSA makes emotional literacy a core
subject, not an optional add-on.

Why Emotional Literacy Matters Now More than
Ever

We are in an emotional crisis — and it
starts in our classrooms.• 1 in 3 teens feels persistently sad or hopeless
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24
• Over 70% of students struggle with anxiety but don't feel safe opening up
• Only 22% of U.S. schools teach emotional regulation in a structured
wayWe teach kids how to pass tests — but
not how to process pain.They leave school knowing how to
write essays — but not how to name trauma, navigate conflict, or say "I need help."

Why I Created E.L.S.A

I created the Emotional Literacy in Schools Act (ELSA) because I grew up in an environment where emotional abuse was dominant — but never acknowledged.I was a high-achieving student, but behind the grades was a child constantly navigating fear, confusion, and emotional harm that no one ever named. I wasn’t taught how to understand my feelings, protect my boundaries, or speak up for myself instead, stay quiet, endure, and perform.Being neurodivergent made that even harder. I experienced the world intensely — but I didn’t have the tools or language to make sense of what I was feeling. My sensitivity was seen as a problem, not something to be understood.It wasn’t until adulthood that I realized I had been surviving emotional abuse for years — and didn’t even have the vocabulary to name it.That’s why I created ELSA.Because emotional literacy is protection. It’s power.
And it’s the tool I needed — one every child deserves.No child should have to wait until they’re broken to begin healing.