SEGWAY
(Social Emotional Growth for Area Youth)
SEGWAY (Social Emotional Growth with Area Youth) a collaborative service-learning initiative that connects San José State University (SJSU) students with local K-5 elementary schools in order to promote Social Emotional Learning (SEL) with local youth. SEL provides youth with the skills to develop healthy identities, manage their emotions, learn how to support their peers, and respect themselves. SEGWAY gives these students the opportunity to learn, engage, and build relationships with SJSU students as they are guided through social-emotional learning activities.
The program is a partnership between Professor Krissy Hassett, who teaches ChAD 168 (Social Emotional Learning) at SJSU, and the community-based organization CORAL (Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning).
In the 2025-2026 academic year, SEGWAY took place at Empire Gardens, Olinder, Lowell, and Washington Elementary Schools. Over 120 SJSU students from ChAD 168 were split into small groups to design and deliver 30–45 minute lessons focused on one of five SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
These lessons, which were integrated into CORAL’s pre-existing after-school program, used hands-on activities to build skills like teamwork, goal setting, empathy, and emotional regulation. Local youth are provided skill frameworks that can be applied throughout their lives, in support of everyday skills necessary for college and career success. SEGWAY supports youth college-going culture by creating lasting memories for students, and supporting skills that youth will need throughout their educational and professional careers.
For SJSU students, SEGWAY provided real-world experience in teaching SEL concepts, deepened their understanding of child development topics, while working to enhance their skills in communication, collaboration, and curriculum design. SJSU ChAD students gain practical experience working with local San José elementary school students that they can use for their future careers. These students gain valuable insight by leading classroom sessions, reflecting on outcomes, and adjusting their strategies to meet young learners’ needs.
More than just a single event, SEGWAY is a dynamic, hands-on learning experience that strengthens connections between college students and local youth and allows future educators an opportunity to support healthy emotional development in children.
Project Impacts
95% of youth said they could apply what they learned in real-life situations. Student reflections included learning “how to make goals” and “how to work in a team,” showing the program’s practical impact.
100% of SJSU graduate students indicated that SEGWAY helped them understand social and emotional growth issues for school-age children
25% of elementary school participants indicated that they learned new conflict management techniques
Participants*
Community Engaged Learners*
Cumulative Hours
Investment Value*
Faculty Lead
Krissy Connell
What people say?
* Community Participants include K–12 students engaged in educational activities and workshops, along with residents attending neighborhood events and celebrations.
* Community Engaged Learners (CEL) include SJSU students who apply course-based knowledge through activities and presentations for K–12 students, as well as Public Health, Communications, and Educational Counseling interns who work directly with the CommUniverCity team to implement projects.
* Investment Value encapsulates the total monetary worth of the CEL volunteer hours contributed to the project.