Taking up the challenge of kindness

David Hulse
Posted 8/21/12

HONESDALE, PA — There was a lot of orange among an unusual standing-room-only crowd at the October 30 weekly Wayne County Commissioners’ meeting, and it had nothing to do with Halloween.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Taking up the challenge of kindness

Posted

HONESDALE, PA — There was a lot of orange among an unusual standing-room-only crowd at the October 30 weekly Wayne County Commissioners’ meeting, and it had nothing to do with Halloween.

Orange is the color adopted by the nationwide Rachel’s Challenge movement, which stems from the writings of Rachel Scott, who was the first victim of the Columbine High School shootings in 1999. October 28 was the second “Go Orange,” Rachel’s Challenge Day and participants came to tell the commissioners about it.

Described as a program to enhance education by improving social interactions at school and increasing school safety, the challenge has moved a wider population in Wayne County.

An announcement of the upcoming day asked those who “look for the best in others… dream big, choose positive influences and really try to always speak with kindness,” to wear orange that day.

They did, from Hawley to Honesdale to Forest City in Lackawanna County. There were orange T-shirts, ribbons, and banners everywhere, and photos they brought proved it.

Students speaking at the meeting described a day that was about kindness, “Being nice to others and spreading the notion,” one explained. Forest City had a Parade of Kindness. At Wallenpaupack Area High, a king and queen of kindness were crowned. At Wayne-Highlands, the cafeteria windows sported stars with words of kindness. Honesdale’s Halloween parade on October 28 was even more orange than usual, with Rachel’s Challenge participants.

A mom who works at the Honesdale National Bank read her daughter’s challenge material and thought, “why just the schools?” She won approval to have all of the bank’s branches participate.

Donna Decker of Wayne Memorial Hospital said some 17,000 information packets about Rachel’s Challenge were distributed by participants.

Volunteers went to community meetings, libraries and senior citizen gatherings, speaking and spreading the word.

An administrator at the Hawley branch campus of Lackawanna College said she was shocked when all her adjunct instructors came to work wearing orange.

County government was involved, as 175 employees attended training focused on reversing negativity and bullying.

Organizers thanked the local T-shirt maker, who worked overtime; construction companies that donated badges and orange construction tape; Home Depot, which donated ribbon bows; and many others who contributed to the event.

Commissioner Jonathan Fritz said, “I’m moved by the staying power of this. It’s profound….”

Decker summarized, “This is what Wayne County is about, and always has been, but Rachel’s Challenge gives you permission.”

Rachel Scott left a legacy of reaching out to those who were different, who were picked on by others, or who were new at her school. Shortly before her death she wrote, “I have this theory, that if one person will go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”

About Rachel’s Challenge

Rachel’s Challenge is a national non-profit organization based on the life and writing of 17-year-old Rachel Scott, who was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999. It is dedicated to creating safe, connected school environments where learning and teaching are maximized. Rachel’s Challenge provides a continual improvement process for schools, designed to awaken the learner in every child. It motivates and equips students to start and sustain a chain reaction of kindness and compassion that transforms schools and communities.

Rachel’s Challenge includes a series of student-empowering, educator-motivating programs and strategies called the Awaken the Learner Five-step School Improvement Process, which equips students and adults to create and sustain safe, caring and supportive learning environments essential for academic achievement.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here