Meet Robert Gallo | Experiential educator / Social and Emotional Learning teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Gallo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
For as long as I can remember, I felt that education was doing a disservice to children. Although we have come a long way, for the most part, the social and emotional literacy of our children is not where it should be. For the 35 years my mission has always been to help create an emotionally safe space for kids to build life skills. We needed to get away from evaluating someones worth based on grades and move towards building a more wholistic child.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rob Gallo’s path from teenager growing up in Washington Heights in New York City to leader in experiential education is one of adventure and personal conviction. Rob has consciously dedicated his career to working with teens and students in prisons, summer camps and schools. While the environments in schools, correctional facilities and summer camps are decidedly different; there are common threads that run through each. In all these settings, Rob found that young adults desire the same thing, someone to engage them on the issues that truly affect their lives every day. Understanding the social and emotional world that teens inhabit is the first step to cultivating their complete growth. Volunteerism. Leadership. Building-Community. Accomplishing one’s own goal. These were the currency of Rob’s experiential learning center, Driftwood. Over the last 10 years, in sessions that lasted from 3 days to 3 weeks, participants of all ages and backgrounds took part in intensive, meaningful activities and workshops to identify, discuss and practice these life skills. With a dedicated staff and a clear mission, Driftwood applied a clear vision to a comprehensive problem that faces us as parents, students and educators. This problem is complex but in simple terms, there is simply not enough attention paid to social and emotional climate that students encounter every day. A week at camp is not enough. An assembly once a semester is not enough. The solution must be as broad and all encompassing as the issue at hand.
Every year, parents would call and say the same thing. They expressed frustration that their child was slipping back into bad habits. The respect, care and work ethic they brought home were dwindling. At Driftwood, students were in a community that consciously put in place incentives for healthy behaviors. This was not the environment they rejoined at school. At school, the metrics of success were detached from one’s ability to care for the community. One can gain social capital at school by bullying. One can earn the honor and recognition of valedictorian by earning excellent grades, regardless of character. So, in this environment, why would a student say the unpopular thing? Why stand up for the bullied? Why evaluate others on the strength of their character? Parents, often in passing, said, “Why can’t the Driftwood model exist in schools?” Enter Community Core.
We have students as captive audiences 6-8 hours a day at school and yet some students will go years without having a conversation about self-esteem, cliques and community. Students inhabit a world that is parallel to but hidden from the view of the faculty and administration. They navigate social obstacles, struggle with the emotional transition from child to young adult, and suffer and celebrate setbacks and triumphs without the guidance of those who have been through it all before them. Many would say that this is not the job of schools. On this point, we profoundly disagree. Some would say that there is not the time, the expertise or the will to take on this task. Community Core was created to overcome these obstacles and to once and for all, give schools the confidence to take charge of cultivating not just writers and mathematicians but complete people.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego is all about the diversity of landscapes. You cannot visit without seeing the seaport – old town – downtown la Jolla, the Northside, little Italy and the list goes on. But if I had to pick an order it would be Little Italy first for the food and people watching. Then you must hit The Tower hotel in Pacific beach for amazing cocktails and a very balanced menu including great sushi. Then a short ride to downtown La Jolla will satisfy your shopping bug before heading to the Northside for some great ethic food. Don’t forget Church of music on Sunday night – where you donate money to find where the DJ spins. Family friendly and early enough so your ready for the beginning of the week!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Clearly I would want to thank my mom. Lola Gallo brought me up in Washington Heights in NYC. She ran a cultural workshop for more than 500 disadvantaged children. She new early on that giving kids the opportunity to build their self – esteem was paramount in their ability to become successful adults. She sent me away to summer camp when I was 12. It changed my life. It was there first time that I felt that I counted for being myself. The experience helped me overcome self doubt and provided me with life tools that I use everyday of my life.

Website: www.jointhecommunity.com

Instagram: @join.the.community

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/robert-gallo-0a3949206

Facebook: @CommunityCore · Education