Calgary woman using hip hop to combat mental health issues in schools [Video]

Connie Jakab has worked in Calgary schools for the last 25 years, teaching breakdancing to students.

At the end of the sessions, she’d have the students form a circle where, one at a time, they could get up and dance in front of everyone.

She says it’s a stressful situation for the kids at first, but they all make it a safe space.

“The kids who would go in were the ones with paralyzing anxiety,” said Jakab. “And I thought, ‘What if we could bring this bravely connected method to teachers and to parents?'”

Jakab grew up in Ogden and attended Sherwood School.

She says she remembers being bullied and called names by other students.

The experience inspired Jakab to create the Bravely Connected Schools Foundation, which she uses to raise funds in the community to support her former school.

“It’s a way for schools to not have to worry about barriers,” she said. “For finances, for mental health …