Educator Insights

March 6, 2025

Reminding Students That They Can Make a Difference

Over the past 6 weeks, The Be Kind People Project® has made it our mission to deliver You Can Make a Difference posters to all 900 schools in Maricopa County. This brand new poster features the smiling faces of THE BE KIND CREW, information about Make a Difference May, acknowledgment of our partners at Thunderbirds Charities, and a reminder to students and teachers that, “You Can Make a Difference!” These posters will be displayed in classrooms across the valley encouraging students and staff to know they matter and can make positive change every day!

Make a Difference May

We are grateful to our partners at Thunderbirds Charities who have continued to support our mission of creating a generation of healthy, responsible, and caring leaders and citizens. The Thunderbirds Charities mission is to “assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.” The Be Kind People Project® initially partnered with the Thunderbirds Charities in 2019 to learn more about their work with Keys to Change. Formerly known as The Human Services Campus, Keys to Change is a collaborative force of 15 partner organizations with the shared outcome of ending homelessness for people every day.

By aligning the missions of The Be Kind People Project® and Thunderbirds Charities, we were able to both serve individuals at Keys to Change and to deliver necessities such as toothbrushes, lunch bags, hygiene products, and personal protection equipment to other agencies including The Boys and Girls Club of Central Phoenix and The United Way. This partnership also provided character education programming with THE BE KIND CREW to 26 schools across 14 school districts here in Arizona through All–School Assemblies and the Make a Difference Essay Contest. The impact was beyond what we had hoped and The Be Kind People Project® has since continued this initiative with programs like Sock and Suds, a toiletries drive in local schools and businesses, Rise and Shine, a celebration of education and Teacher Appreciation Day, The National Be Kind Youth Leadership Board, a leadership board offering community service opportunities for K – 12 students, and many more!

This continuing partnership with Thunderbirds Charities has advanced The Be Kind Make a Difference May Community Initiative that will serve thousands of low-income students throughout Maricopa County. Included in the initiative is: The delivery of 25,000 Make a Difference posters to Maricopa County schools, the BE KIND MAKE a DIFFERENCE Essay Contest, a variety of volunteer opportunities for youth and their families hosted at The BE KIND Community Education Center, the assembly and distribution of 2500 BE KIND Care Packs for individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Maricopa County, and Rise & Shine, an inspirational event on May 6, 2025 when Essay Contest Winners, teachers and community members will be recognized and celebrated.

Make a Difference Poster Impact  

As an organization, The Be Kind People Project® believes it is important to equip students and teachers with the necessary resources to continue the conversations of civic engagement beyond our assemblies and THE BE KIND CREW performances. One way we succeed in this effort is by providing each classroom in Maricopa County with an inspirational poster reminding students of their importance within the spaces they occupy every day.

Students readily engage with THE BE KIND CREW and want to learn and emulate what they represent. Research in the field of education has unveiled the transformative power of inspiring posters in classrooms and these visual elements do more than just adorn the walls; they serve as catalysts for motivation and engagement among students. Imagine walking into a classroom where uplifting quotes and vibrant imagery spark curiosity and inspiration. This is the environment that posters can help create.

Studies rooted in educational psychology, such as those by Deci and Ryan on Self-Determination Theory, underscore the significance of intrinsic motivation, which can be greatly enhanced by positive visual stimuli. Furthermore, Richard Mayer’s work on multimedia learning reveals that students retain information more effectively when it is presented through both verbal and visual means. The result is that these eye-catching posters can reinforce key concepts and boost memory retention.

Additionally, research on classroom climate emphasizes that a supportive and inspiring environment directly contributes to student success. By integrating inspiring posters and other collateral from The Be Kind People Project®, educators can cultivate a sense of community and belonging, ultimately fostering an atmosphere where students thrive academically and personally. The impact of these visual tools is profound, making classrooms not just places of learning, but spaces of inspiration and growth.

How YOU Can Make a Difference:

It is important to acknowledge that our mission is not only to inspire students to have great character and leadership but to also recognize that these students will one day be the citizens and leaders of our communities. Teaching students about their immediate impact and the ways that they can give back to those less fortunate than themselves is a direct implementation of the Be Considerate, Be Supportive, and Be a Friend tenets of The Be Kind Pledge. Interested in making a difference in partnership with The Be Kind People Project? Here is how you can get involved:

  • Volunteer at The Be Kind Community Education Center: This summer, we are building more carepacks and hosting a pet food drive with our National Be Kind Youth Leadership Board. Sign up to receive information on when you can stop by to build packs! 
  • Enter the National BE Kind Essay Contest: Start the conversation about civic engagement with your students in K-8 and spread the word about how you can make a difference in your community by submitting. Deadline for submissions is March 20, 2025. Learn More about the Make a Difference Essay Contest.
  • Sponsor a School: Support a school near you to receive programming from The Be Kind People Project.
  • Didn’t receive a poster? Let us know!
References

“Keys to Change.” Keys to Change, www.keystochange.org. Accessed February 2025  

“Thunderbirds Charities.” Thunderbirds Charities, www.thunderbirdscharities.org. Accessed February 2025 

“Homelessness increases by 18% in 2024. Inflation and rise in evictions are contributing factors.” Krasean, Nicole; information provided by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. www.hud.gov. Accessed February 2025 

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