Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Get involved in national kindness movements!

A message from your friends at the Connecticut Public Affairs Network...

Hi again everyone! Today on Kindness is Kool we want to talk about joining kindness movements!

We all know how big of an impact a single act of kindness can make. No matter how small they may seem, individual acts of kindness can make a huge impact on the people around us! Each of us can make the world a little bit better by being kind every day. That’s one of the best things about kindness: it’s something that everyone can do on their own!

But kindness can also be a team sport! By joining larger kindness movements or partnering with other kind people, we can make an even bigger impact than we could on our own. Best of all, joining a kindness movement doesn’t have to be hard! Have you participated in one of Elena’s Kindness Days? Have you made a Kindness Hand for #HandsOfKindness? Have you worked with a class or group to get a Buddy Bench at your school or in your town? These are all part of CKG Elena’s Campaign for Kindness, which is a kindness movement! Even by just visiting this blog and learning about Elena’s campaign, you’re taking part in a kindness movement!


CKG Elena wearing her Kind Campaign tshirt that says "You Can Sit With Us #KindCampaign"


There are some great kindness movements out there. Take a look at this list of some our favorites, and think about joining one (or more)!

  • Started in 2002 in Tucson, Arizona, Ben’s Bells spreads kindness through teamwork and crafts! Volunteers visit a Ben’s Bells studio and work in teams to make wind-chimes with painted beads and flowers. Volunteers give the bells to people in their community who have done something kind for others! Other bells are placed around town with notes to take them and pass the kindness along to more people. But you don’t have to visit Arizona to participate – a Ben’s Bells studio opened in Bethel, CT in 2013! Or you could join Ben’s Bell’s Kind Campus program, and your class will receive cool kindness materials and activities. Best of all, the program is free!
  • Kind Campaign was founded in 2009 by two students at Pepperdine University who wanted to stop girl-on-girl bullying in schools. The campaign has reached thousands of people, encouraging students to be more kind and supportive to one another. You can become involved by signing up to be a Kind Ambassador, going online and writing a Kind Card to someone you know, or by putting together a free Kind Campaign assembly for your school! CKG Elena even recently found a Kind Campaign shirt at Kohl’s! (see photo of Elena above)
  • You can even join a virtual kindness community by joining the Fluent in Kindness movement! By signing up for their email list, liking them on Facebook, or following them on Twitter, you’ll get tips on ways to spread kindness, as well as kindness-based quotes and stories from around the world. You can also share your own acts of kindness to inspire others to do the same!

Will you join one of these kindness movements? Will you inspire others to be kind? Let us know! Email CKGElena@kidgovernor.org to let Elena know what you are doing to be kind to others and you will get a shout-out in her next blog post!



Wednesday, September 21, 2016

My amazing Summer Library Circuit!

Hi everyone, this week I will be telling you a little bit about my Summer Library Circuit!! During August, I visited five libraries across Connecticut to share my campaign for kindness and talking about Buddy Benches! Click on the name of each library below to see more photos from my Circuit!



First I went to the Hartford Public Library and I saw my good friend Gizmo the Therapy Dog!! I also got to meet a bunch of amazing kids and hear what they are doing to be kind!! 


Next I went to the Russell Library in Middletown where I got to meet the Mayor Daniel Drew - that was so cool!! There were also a bunch of kids, adults, and community organizations that came to learn about Buddy Benches and ask me questions. 
Me and Middletown Mayor Drew


Next I went to the New Haven Free Public Library where kids were bubbling to tell me all about what they are doing to be kind!! Some kids even wanted to be the next Connecticut's Kid Governor!! How cool is that??

Next stop: Farmington Public Library!! It was so much fun there - I got to meet a bunch of kids who were really interested in campaign kindness!! We got a bunch of kindness hands!  


Last stop was the Meriden Public Library where I got to meet some kids who really wanted to be Kid Governor and I was so exited to hear that!! I met some amazing kids in Meriden!!



Over all, 172 people came to learn about my campaign for kindness and Buddy Benches between the five libraries!! How amazing!!

That's all for this blog post friends! Remember to share your hand of kindness on social media using #HandsofKindness! Talk to you soon, bye!!


- Elena

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

The story of the creation of Connecticut's Kid Governor!

A message from your friends at the Connecticut Public Affairs Network...


This time last year Connecticut’s Kid Governor (CKG) was just an idea brainstormed in a grocery store parking lot. Now, it’s a hugely popular school program that’s gearing up for its second election this fall - all while the current and first Connecticut’s Kid Governor, Elena Tipton, successfully touts her “Campaign for Kindness” throughout the state. During this installment of “Tales from the Old State House,” you will hear the story of how this program came to be and where it’s going from the educator who was both in that parking lot and currently at the helm of CKG, Brian Cofrancesco.

To learn more about Connecticut’s Kid Governor, both the program and the student, visit CT.KidGovernor.org and follow CKG on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. This installment of “Tales from the Old State House” was recorded in July 2016.


Friday, September 9, 2016

It's time to register for Connecticut's Kid Governor 2016-2017!

After a successful pilot year, the Connecticut Public Affairs Network at Connecticut's Old State House is excited to announce the second year of Connecticut's Kid Governor!


This fall, Connecticut 5th graders will participate in a statewide election for Connecticut's next Kid Governor. Through educational toolkits, which contain in-class lessons, and the 2016 election, students will learn about our three branches of state government, the history & process of voting, and the importance of civic engagement...all from the comfort of the classroom!

All 5th grade classes in Connecticut are invited to participate in this program by either nominating a student candidate from their school and voting in the election - or by just voting in the election. Don't miss your chance to participate in this FREE program...the next Connecticut's Kid Governor (CKG) could be YOUR student!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Register your class for CKG 2016 -2017!
Check out our toolkits of in-class lessons
Sign-up for our Tuesday, September 27 workshop or Wednesday, September 28 webinar to learn more about CKG
Review the official Rules & Regulations, Entry Form, and Photography & Media Release for student candidates
 
Connecticut's Kid Governor is aligned with the Connecticut Core Standards & Connecticut Social Studies Frameworks. It provides an innovative way to incorporate civics and taking informed action into your classroom. The program also fulfills standards set in the new Red, White & Blue Schools program launched by the Connecticut Department of Education and the Office of the Secretary of the State.

 For more information about Connecticut's Kid Governor: Visit CT.KidGovernor.org
or contact Head of Education Brian Cofrancesco at Brian.Cofrancesco@kidgovernor.org.

 

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Get ready for Kindness Day on September 13!

Hi friends, it's Elena here with another blog post!! 

I once again have ten kindness suggestions for this month's Kindness Day on September 13. I will focus on doing acts of kindness at school because I know many of you are back at school!
  1. If you see someone sitting alone, invite them to come sit next to you or go sit with them!!!! 
  2. Make your teacher a card telling them some things about you and how you can't wait to be in their class!! 
  3. Bake your teacher or bus driver or even your class some baked goods! 
  4. Bring a card to your bus driver telling him or her "thank you" for driving you!! 
  5. Donate one of your old books to your classroom!! 
  6. See if your school librarian needs any help shelving books!! 
  7. If someone drops something go pick it up for them!! 
  8. Compliment someone's outfit or hair or shoes!! 
  9. Start a game on the playground and invite everyone to play!! 
  10. Help someone up if they fall!! 
So these are the kindness suggestions for the month!!


Me talking with kids at the New Haven Public Library about my campaign for kindness during my Summer Library Circuit!


Also remember to write down your act of kindness for Kindness Day on a paper hand - or your own hand! - and share it through social media using #HandsofKindness. This will share my campaign for kindness with lots of people!


This month I would like to give a shout out to my grandmothers Fene and Mema!! Good job being kind!! And also shout out to Ms. Joyce Lesich from the Kiwanis of Charlottesville Virginia!! Thank you for that kind email!! 

That's all for this month talk to you next month bye!!!!!!

- Elena