Denver middle school earns recognition for inclusion in sports [Video]

The human spirit craves acceptance. That doesn’t mean merely fitting in, but being loved and cherished as your authentic self.

One Denver middle school is leading the way on inclusion, advocacy, and respect — using sports as the perfect playing field to make their community a better place.

“Sports really bring the sense of team, the sense of community, the sense of joy and success,” Patrice Underwood, the principal at Merrill Middle School, said.

Merrill is uniquely dedicated to making everyone feel welcome.

“It’s truly a microcosm of just compassion and an urban setting and diversity,” Principal Underwood said. “We love to celebrate everybody.”

The school boasts student-led inclusivity groups, a newcomers program, and many other avenues to express good old-fashioned friendship.

“We just try to include everybody in our school in everything that we do,” Wendy Shepard, Merrill’s multi-intensive-severe special education teacher, said. “It melts my heart to see these students with disabilities being treated just like their …