3 Ways to Create Even More Kindness in Your Community

Since Aspen Academy opened its doors in 2005, we have maintained a commitment to one rule: Be Kind. A few weeks ago, when I watched a video of children introducing themselves to strangers at a coffee shop, I was reminded of how simple acts of kindness can transform relationships.

Why Kindness is Essential

Scientific research shows that kindness contributes to lasting well-being and is a predictor of satisfaction and reduced stress and anxiety.

Many colleges are now emphasizing kindness on applications for admission.

Researchers are exploring the connection between kindness and personal happiness.

How to Inspire Others With Kindness

With a value of "Be Kind," comes great responsibility to demonstrate and honor it. During this past year, we’ve brought kindness to the forefront for our Aspen Academy community and the greater community in a number of ways.

1. Hosting a film screening and conversation for the community. We were recently selected by the producers of Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, a film about the life of Mister Rogers, to host a screening of the film. After the film, we invited parents to be part of a discussion about elements of the film that resonated with them and what actions they would take as a result. For middle school students who watched the film, we asked them to write about their takeaways from the film.

2. Bringing in an outside speaker. With the support of our Parent Civic Organization, we were able to host an evening event with Rosalind Wiseman, a dynamic speaker on the topic of dignity, respect, and kindness within the context of the world of tweens and teens. This speaker opened the door for additional conversation and offered a call-to-action for parents to support students in learning these key aspects of successfully interacting in society.

3. Creating a Kindness Challenge. In April, it become a focus for our entire school with an art project, daily challenges, a calendar of discussion questions for parents to ask their children throughout the month, and more. Our community was incredibly engaged, resulting in some of our most liked and shared social media all year. Over the course of three weeks, two-minutes of daily acts of kindness can retrain your brain to be more positive.

Many of you intentionally model and demonstrate kindness as a family value and within your organizations: What would you add to this list? Please share in the comments below.

Celebrating values is an opportunity for all of us to step up a little more as students, as families, as staff, as a community, and as global citizens.

If you're interested in the calendar of activities we created for our Be Kind Calendar, click here.

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Kristina Scala is the Founder and President of Aspen Academy (an innovative and award-winning private school in Greenwood Village, CO), Aspen Youth Leadership Institute, Aspen Entrepreneurial Institute, Aspen Academy Investment Fund, Bear’s Student Enterprises, and MODI. Scala is a thoughtful and creative leader, passionate entrepreneur, enthusiastic educator and master facilitator who presents on topics of education and personal, leadership, entrepreneurial, and parenting development. She works to inspire and motivate people to live a purposeful and authentic life through being kind, doing good, and making the world better through what we think, say, and do.