Imagine a life where intentional kindness drives every interaction and inspires authentic change every day. That is my goal for you: to make purposeful kindness a passionate part of your daily routine.
Imagine a life where intentional kindness drives every interaction and inspires authentic change every day. That is my goal for you: to make purposeful kindness a passionate part of your daily routine.
Have you ever said:
- “I want to make a difference in other people’s lives.”
- “I dread Mondays and just look forward to Fridays.”
Have you ever said:
- “I wish my students or colleagues could see the value they bring to our culture and climate”?
- “I’d love to have a better relationship with the local community.”
If so, you are in the right place!
I recall the day one of my former principals asked me to serve as the advisor for The National BETA Club, and I was given the task of leading over 300 students in grades 9-12 at a time when our lives were restricted due to remote learning. Although I had no clue how to lead students during this time, I quickly began assessing and designing a plan to engage our students and faculty members in “The Art of Kindness.”
The BETAS completed various initiatives to support “The Art of Kindness.” They focused on three of the four BETA Club pillars to foster character, leadership, and service throughout the school year. Students collected and created Valentine’s Day cards, coloring books, candy, crayons, and games. We celebrated counselors during National Counselor Week by decorating their conference room, providing snacks throughout the week, decorating their doors with words of appreciation, and sending cards.
“The Art of Kindness” transformed the culture and climate, developing authentic leaders during challenging times. As a result, I built strong relationships with students, parents, and the local community, and we genuinely transformed participants’ mindsets about the power of kindness. Five ways to foster kindness in a classroom, school, or community include:
The Art of Kindness 1 - Create a space where people can share positive messages about classmates or coworkers.
A wall or bulletin board of appreciation creates a safe space and evolves within the school’s ecosystem will uplift the stakeholders in the building. Utilize the morning announcements or your school’s weekly newsletter to remind students and teachers to pause, read, and reflect!
The Art of Kindness 2: Work with local businesses to see if they will donate prizes to thank stakeholders for their kindness.
Seeking donations from local businesses is a great way to promote goodwill and build community relationships. Also, encourage students to volunteer with local businesses, churches, or community centers to assist with food drives, toiletries, reading books, tutoring students in after-school care, and clothing giveaways. For example, the BETAs wrote a grant through the city to supply, “Books and Blankets to Pilgrims’ Inn.”
The Art of Kindness 3: Hold a Kindness Spirit Week to encourage everyone to treat others well and do what is right.
A Kindness Appreciation Week fosters innovation and builds unity within the school community. Student leaders can create specific acts of kindness for each day of the week. It’s a great way to celebrate all stakeholders in the building!
The Art of Kindness 4: Collect food that can be given to a local food pantry.
Collecting perishable food items is integral to local communities. We witnessed this when we gave to the Rock Hill Community Fridge and The Mercantile in Rock Hill, SC, which provides free food to those in need and offers information on how to host a fridge or adopt one for the week.
The Art of Kindness 5: Promote an Art of Kindness campaign in which stakeholders share a brief description of how they will intentionally illustrate kindness within and beyond their school community.
The Art of Kindness Campaign is an opportunity for stakeholders to randomly share a 30-second video on various ways to intentionally exemplify kindness daily. For example, students could volunteer by participating with a local church, such as New Mount Olivet A.M.E Zion Outreach Ministry at the Olive Branch Facility, during the Toiletries and Clothing Giveaway.
As you move forward, I hope you choose kindness every day. Remember, even the smallest acts can spark lasting change, build stronger relationships, and create a more connected and compassionate community. The power to make a difference is in your hands. It starts with you!
Dr. Jocelyn Gordon is the Innovation & Content Integration Science Specialist for Clover School District in Clover, South Carolina.
