The Shoe Club: Walking Towards Empathy and Connection in a Michigan School (Ep. 42)

04/18/25 • 41 min

Courageous Conversations About Our Schools

This story starts with a bag of shoes that helped a school community heal after the tragic deaths of two students. That story blossomed into a unique project called the “Shoe Club” that fosters empathy and breaks barriers in a Michigan middle school. The founder of the club and guest on this episode is Matt Hamilton, a 2025 Horace Mann and NEA Award-winning teacher from East Jordan Public Schools in Michigan.

The Club has gotten national attention with inscribed shoe donations from the likes of Jane Goodall, Michael Jordan, moon-walking astronaut Chalie Duke, Dolly Parton, and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Hear about the unique requirements for joining the Shoe Club, which now include reading the book Value Up, co-authored by Hamilton. Students also donate one of their own shoes with a meaningful inscription. Matt explains how the club evolved to include community service and the creation of dream boards, all designed to empower students with a sense of purpose.

Joining Matt are two student Club members from East Jordan: Hannah Wyman, an eighth-grader active in theater, and Rylan McVannel, an eleventh-grader with a passion for disc golf. Both are integral to the Shoe Club's story and offer firsthand perspectives on its significance within their school community.

A central theme of the conversation is the concept of students wearing "masks" and the pain that can lie hidden beneath the surface. Matt, Hannah, and Rylan discuss the Shoe Club's role in encouraging students to see beyond these facades and creating a safe space for understanding and connection. They share powerful insights into how the club promotes listening, appreciating diverse perspectives, and bridging the powerful forces that often divide students.

For educators intrigued by the Shoe Club, Matt generously offers guidance on how educators and students elsewhere can start something similar in their own schools.

This episode is a testament to the power of a teacher's vision and the remarkable capacity of students to create positive change. Through the simple yet profound act of sharing stories and "walking in each other's shoes," the Shoe Club in East Jordan is a powerful antidote to division and a beacon of hope for building more empathetic and connected school communities.

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For educators intrigued by the Shoe Club, Matt generously offers guidance on how educators and students elsewhere can start something similar in their own schools.

Let us know what you think with a text message.

Previous Episode

From Hate to Dialogue: A Conversation with Daryl Davis, “Klan Whisperer” (Ep. 41)

How many of us would have the courage to have a conversation with someone who hates us? My guest, Daryl Davis, has done just that, not once, but for decades, with members of the Ku Kluz Klan and other hate groups, and many have renounced their ideology after getting to know him. A Black musician, Davis shares his unbelievable story driven by one powerful question: "How can you hate me when you don't even know me?" Prepare to be challenged to rethink how we and our students engage with those who seem the furthest from us.

Here are some of Davis’s key recommendations for educators:

Create opportunities for students to engage with and learn from people with unfamiliar backgrounds and perspectives. Go beyond designated "diversity" events or months.
Teach history honestly, including the shameful parts that students can learn from.
Encourage students to “walk across the cafeteria” and to have conversations with those outside of their affinity group. Davis attributes his propensity for empathy to his early school experiences in highly diverse classrooms.)
Encourage students to form groups based on common interests rather than race or ethnicity.

Notable quotes about Daryl Davis:

"Daryl Davis is a national treasure—he's living proof it's possible to talk people out of their hate...If everyone followed his lead, the world would be a more respectful, thoughtful place." - Adam Grant, #1 New Your Times bestselling author, host of Re: Thinking podcast

"I have a lot of respect for Daryl Davis." - Former KKK Imperial Wizard

"Daryl Davis has proven that when you open your heart to someone, you give them a chance to open their heart to you." - Morgan Freeman, Academy Award-winning actor, producer, and narrator.

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