Social and emotional learning takes new importance in an education curriculum to teach respect and responsibility from an early age

(September 2019 – Phoenix AZ) Bullying and cyberbullying rates are staggering—on average, one in three children have experienced some form of unwanted, aggressive, behavior.  There is a strong need for character education in the classroom, and The Be Kind People Project offers the solution through their virtual programs that keep students engaged as they learn and move with THE BE KIND CREW®.

Teachers across the nation are invited to join educators worldwide who already use The Be Kind People Project’s free online program, The BE KIND Break™.  The BE KIND Break is a teacher’s best friend when it comes to providing engaging bell work or filling down-time in the classroom. The BE KIND Break offers free, ready-to-use lessons for students in grades K-8, that are written to national academic standards, all while encouraging students to be kind from bell to bell.

“We understand how busy teachers are,” says Bo Whittenton, Chief Services and Programs Officer for The Be Kind People Project, “We want to provide them with high quality, ready-to-use content they can use however they wish.”   Whittenton continues, “We go to schools across the USA for two main reasons:  1) To thank and honor teachers and 2) To teach kids the important skills of kindness.   This free resource demonstrates an ongoing commitment to America’s teachers and to building a generation of respectful, responsible, and caring citizens and adults.”

The Be Kind Pledge™ is the foundation for teaching kindness skills to students.   Research has clearly shown that strong pro-social

skills demonstrated between the ages of 5-13 are predictors of future health, academic achievement, and economic contribution to communities.    The Be Kind Pledge teaches youth to be encouraging, positive, supportive, helpful, honest, thankful, considerate, respectful, responsible, and to be a friend.   Says Whittenton, “We have seen dramatic positive changes in the school learning environment when The Be Kind Pledge becomes a common code of conduct and expectations.”   She continues, “When teachers have classrooms that are following The Be Kind Pledge, it gives more time for teaching and learning, with less of a teacher’s time spent on discipline issues.”

Grade specific videos and lessons in The BE KIND Break are released monthly with a specific emphasis on one of ten pledge skills from The Be Kind Pledge™. For example, “Be Respectful” was the focus of August.  When teachers access The BE KIND Break, they are virtually greeted by a member of THE BE KIND CREW who introduces teachers and students to a “BE KIND Move of the Month™” and a preview of that month’s social studies, civics, language arts, science, and math worksheets, which are fillable online or print-ready.  There is even a “healthy habit” challenge for every month—August was about limiting screen time. The combination of hip hop dance with social and emotional learning work in harmony to create fun and engaging lessons that teach kids it’s cool to be kind from coast to coast.

In addition to the free resource, The Be Kind People Project offers a more comprehensive, premium online program, The BE KIND School™.  Like The BE KIND Break, The BE KIND School takes a more complete approach to link evidence-based standards with academic enrichment. Teachers can access original worksheets, writing prompts, classroom discussions, crafts, book lists, games and so much more.

The BE KIND School program has been an amazing addition to our campus and really improved our school culture,” said Emily James, fifth grade teacher at Tavan Elementary School in the Scottsdale Unified School District. “The kids truly embrace the idea of being “kind kids” and it has greatly reduced our behavior problems. Having a different pledge skill each month makes it easy to implement into your classroom and keeps the kids interested because it always changing. I love the way our students light up when you tell them “Thank you for being kind”. They know it is big deal and work hard to be recognized for that.”

All content within virtual programs are based on national academic standards, STEAM and have been vetted by The Be Kind Education Council, a volunteer team of educators.

About The Be Kind People Project:

Founded in 2011, The Be Kind People Project is a charitable nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona focused on teaching positive solutions for conflict and the skills of being a kind person. Kindness is at the core of how people of all ages respect, communicate with, and treat others. Because meaningful character education is an essential pillar of effective social, emotional, and academic learning, The Be Kind People Project provides students with an evidence-based learning approach so they will understand what TO do instead of what NOT to do. Based on a Pledge of 10 kindness skills, The Be Kind People Project offers school assemblies, online learning programs, after school and summer classes, leadership conferences, school gardens, community service projects and family engagement programs. Most programs are led by members of THE BE KIND CREW, a group of 65 professional urban dancers and educators, who teach the skills of kindness to life through music, dance, and spoken word. The Be Kind People Project has nearly one million contacts annually with students, their teachers and their families nationwide.

A unique morning of inspiration that includes a “make and take” service project to benefit more than 1,000 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County

The Be Kind People Project (BKPP), a Phoenix-based nonprofit, is hosting its first Rise & Shine breakfast in conjunction with their Make A Difference May Campaign. The interactive community event, held at The Arizona Biltmore on Tuesday, April 30, offers guests the opportunity to learn more about BKPP, enjoy performances by the BE KIND CREW, hear from inspirational keynote, Jennifer L. Carroll, and make Summer Care Kits as they enjoy their breakfast of Bagels and Bellini’s.

As a precursor to Make A Difference May, BKPP launched March M.A.D.*Ness (*Make A Difference), which included surprise school deliveries thanking teachers and staff members to 112 schools across metro Phoenix, and an invitation for students to participate in an essay contest. Over 300 students from 29 Maricopa County schools responded to the “How are you Making a Difference?” prompt and three winners will be announced, and share their essays, at the breakfast.

In Phoenix there are estimated to be 6,000 people experiencing homelessness at any given time. The Be Kind People Project is collecting travel-sized toiletries to create 1,000 Summer Care Kits for distribution throughout the Valley during Make A Difference May.

The Rise & Shine breakfast concludes by giving guests the opportunity to assemble their own Summer Care Kits. One Care Kit will be kept by the guest to give to someone in need, and the other will be distributed to several community partners that support those experiencing homelessness.

Tickets for Rise & Shine are available for purchase at https://thebekindpeopleproject.org/.

Alongside student leaders from Diamond Canyon Elementary School, The Be Kind People Project collected nearly 500 toys and books for children at a domestic violence shelter.

The Be Kind People Project (BKPP), a 501c3 non-profit headquartered in Phoenix, announces their success in collaborating with student leaders at Diamond Canyon Elementary School to collect 500 toys and books for children at Sojourner Center in Phoenix.

Sojourner Center is a shelter for women and children who have experienced domestic violence. Their mission is “to provide a broad spectrum of services to victims of domestic violence while working with professionals in the field on education, research and advocacy with the goal of ending domestic violence” (sojournercenter.org).

“Our teachers picked student leaders from each of the grade levels in our middle-grade bands to represent our school as our ‘Be Kind Ambassadors’,” said Assistant Principal Brittany Dyer-Hurden. “Our ambassadors came up with this idea with THE BE KIND CREW® to donate toys to those in need. It was hugely successful with almost 500 toys donated, and so we are really excited and proud of our kids.”

The dedicated group of students and the BE KIND CREW worked together to create a solution to the prompt: “How can you make a difference in your community?”. Over the course of four meetings in the span of five months, they came up with the idea of running a toy drive and worked together to plan and promote it.

Diamond Canyon’s “Be Kind Ambassadors” were led by Miguel Pedraza, a member of THE BE KIND CREW as well as the Coordinator of Education Programs and Social Impact for BKPP. “It was a great honor to have worked with the ‘Be Kind Ambassadors’ at Diamond Canyon,” said Pedraza. “Their sense of urgency, leadership, and willingness to help others surprised me! Students like them will make a difference in our communities because they are leaders that are compassionate for one another, creative, and most importantly, they want to see change. It makes me happy to see leaders like them that are willing to take charge!”

This toy drive is only the start of philanthropic efforts to come as part of BKPP’s Make A Difference May effort, which will officially kick off next week.

A unique morning of inspiration that includes a “make and take” service project to benefit more than 1,000 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County.

The Be Kind People Project (BKPP), a 501c3 non-profit headquartered in Phoenix, gets ready to host their very first Rise and Shine Breakfast in conjunction with their Make A Difference May Campaign. It is an interactive ticketed community breakfast, held at The Arizona Biltmore on Tuesday, April 30^th. Guests will have the opportunity to learn more about BKPP, enjoy performances by the BE KIND CREW, and see a live performance of “So Beautiful,” BKPP’s official theme song by Javi Star “Weezy.” Jennifer L Carroll, the keynote speaker will inspire guests as they enjoy their breakfast of Bagels and Bellini’s (featuring Arizona’s only vertical bagel bar!).

As a precursor to Make A Difference May, BKPP launched March M.A.D.*Ness (*Make A Difference), which included surprise school deliveries thanking teachers and staff members to # of schools across Phoenix, and an essay contest. The prompt was “How Are You Making a Difference?”. Over 300 students entered from 29 schools across Maricopa County, and the three winners will be presented at the breakfast.

In Phoenix there are estimated to be 6,000 people experiencing homelessness at any given time. The Be Kind People Project is collecting 13,000 items to assemble 1,000 Summer Care Kits to distribute around the city to Kick off Make A Difference May. To conclude the breakfast, guests will have the opportunity to assemble their very own Summer Care Kit. One they will get to keep and hand distribute and the other they will get to choose which of our partnered organizations the Kit will go to, to be distributed.

About The Be Kind People Project:

The Be Kind People Project (BKPP) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit based in Phoenix, Arizona, focused on building a generation of respectful, responsible, healthy, and caring citizens and leaders. Their mission is to initiate positive social change in schools and provide a framework for youth that will improve academic achievement, interpersonal relationship skills, accountability, behavior, personal health and wellness, teacher appreciation and the formation of enduring values.   Their programs serve as a positive approach to bullying by teaching positive solutions for conflict and the skills of being a kind person, highlighted in The Be Kind Pledge.   They have health, nutrition, fitness and a robust program to tackle cyberbullying.   BKPP has nearly one million contacts annually with students, their teachers, and their families in 14 states.   BKPP offers school assemblies, online learning programs, afterschool and summer classes, leadership conferences, school gardens, community service projects, and family engagement programs.   BKPP’s innovative and culturally relevant programs integrate social, emotional, academic, civic, teacher appreciation, wellness, digital responsibility, online safety, and character education with a high energy, interactive approach that CONNECTS with students through the voice, attitude, and urban dance of THE BE KIND CREW®.  THE BE KIND CREW is a group of over 40 highly talented professional urban dancers who are also trained as education specialists and who serve as an inspiration and positive role examples for students nationwide.

For more information about the impact that BKPP is making in schools, please email Rachael Vargas: Rachael@BKPP.org or call 602.559.9399.

The Be Kind People Project bands with community and schools to create an environment for positive academic and behavior program based on respect and responsibility

October 24, 2018 (PHOENIX, AZ) Across the country, news headlines are focused on respect and responsibility.

Schools in Bossier City, Louisiana are doing something about it. Working together to create a positive learning environment that will serve both students and their teachers, Bossier Parish Schools and The Be Kind People Project (a 501c3 non-profit) will present a comprehensive youth development program based on kindness towards others the week of October 22, 2018.

Seven members of THE BE KIND CREW® —a group of over 40 highly talented professional urban dancers and education specialists who, serve as an inspiration and positive role examples for students nationwide —will be visiting Kerr Elementary and Stockwell Place Elementary, the same schools they visited two years ago.

“Based on ten skill sets of The Be Kind Pledge™, The Be Kind People Project works in an innovative and pro-active way to help kids learn what TO do instead of what NOT to do,” said Chief Programs and Services Officer, Bo Whittenton. “We’ve been called the best anti-bullying program available to schools and we never even say the word “bully” to the kids at any time. Instead, we help kids to understand that it’s COOL to be kind.”

Bossier City

“We are excited to bring THE BE KIND CREW® back to Bossier City to work with their students.   We’ve been so impressed with the commitment of the schools and the community.   This is something very special to have such broad support, and we think that the town will feel the positive effects,” says Whittenton.   “In addition, we celebrate teachers, we thank them, and we encourage kids to do the same.”

Recently, The Be Kind People Project released an original music video and song dedicated to an attitude of gratitude for our nation’s teachers.   It will be performed live by THE BE KIND CREW when they are in Bossier City. View the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VgnAybwQhY   #BeKindThankTeachers

The Be Kind People Project is encouraging parents, kids and adults who remember teachers who made the difference in their life, to pay it forward by simply sharing the video to their educator of choice to start the school year off in a positive way.

The Be Kind People Project bands with community and schools band to create an environment for positive academic and behavior program based on respect and responsibility

August 13, 2018 (PHOENIX, AZ) Across the country, news headlines are focused on respect and responsibility.

Watertown, South Dakota is doing something about it.   Working together to create a positive learning environment that will serve both students and their teachers, Watertown schools and The Be Kind People Project (a 501c3 non-profit) will present a comprehensive youth development program based on kindness towards others the week of October 8, 2018.

Based on ten skill sets of The Be Kind Pledge™, The Be Kind People Project works in an innovative and pro-active way to help kids learn what TO do instead of what NOT to do.   Says Chief Programs and Services Officer, Bo Whittenton, “We’ve been called the best anti-bullying program available to schools and we never even say the word “bully” to the kids at any time. Instead, we help kids to understand that it’s COOL to be kind.”

Watertown………. (paragraph and quote about Watertown’s commitment and plans)

“We are excited to bring THE BE KIND CREW® to Watertown to work with their students.   We’ve been so impressed with the commitment of the schools and the community.   This is something very special to have such broad support, and we think that the town will feel the positive effects,” says Whittenton.   “In addition, we celebrate teachers, we thank them, and we encourage kids to do the same.”

Recently, The Be Kind People Project released an original music video and song dedicated to an attitude of gratitude for our nation’s teachers.   It will be performed live by THE BE KIND CREW when they are in Watertown.     View the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VgnAybwQhY   #BeKindThankTeachers

The Be Kind People Project is encouraging parents, kids and adults who remember teachers who made the difference in their life, to pay it forward by simply sharing the video to their educator of choice to start the school year off in a positive way.