Spreading Kindness Newsletter
July 2018
Welcome to the first edition of the Spreading Kindness newsletter. We hope to share with you interesting articles and links to stories, actions, music, and opportunities for spreading kindness in our communities.
Simple Acts of Kindness
Looking for a way to brighten someone’s day?
- Let someone behind you at the supermarket check out first.
- Cook a meal for a friend or neighbor.
Upcoming Events
Mindful Kindness Study Group
Doug Carnine will lead two Mindful Kindness study groups this fall. Both study groups are free of charge and will have six sessions. A Sunday afternoon group will begin on September 30. A Tuesday evening group will begin on October 2. If you need to miss a session you can easily attend the same session in the alternate study group. Minimum enrollment for each study group is 8 people.
The study groups will be based on Carnine’s book, How Love Wins: The Power of Mindful Kindness. The sessions will be a mix of small and large group discussions. Those interested in benefiting from the course will be encouraged to do the practice exercises in the book before each study group session. Two chapters will be covered at each meeting.
Sunday sessions:
Dates: Sept. 30, Oct. 14, 28, Nov. 11, Nov. 25, Dec 9
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Location: The Oaks, 1424 Oak Patch Rd, Eugene, OR
Cost: Free
Tuesday sessions:
Dates: Oct. 2, 16, 30, Nov. 13, 27, Dec. 11
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Location: The Oaks, 1424 Oak Patch Rd, Eugene, OR
Cost: Free
To register or receive email updates about the study groups contact: Doug Carnine.
UO Insight Seminar
Doug Carnine will present a UO Insight Seminar on his book Saint Badass, stories of how the lives of 4 prisoners convicted of violent crimes were transformed through friendship, support for meditation, mindfulness and kindness while in maximum security prison. Co-presenter will be Kelly Raths, Administrator of Policy & Business Services for the Oregon Department of Corrections. Kelly leads efforts in areas such as corrections officers’ resilience, mindfulness training, and non-violent communication.
Registration for this seminar will open in early September at: UO Insight Seminar.
Date: Saturday, September 29, 2018
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: UO Baker Downtown Center (10th & High St.)
Cost: $60
Interest Group Updates
Kindness in Signs
Business cards and lawn signs with a message to “Choose Kindness” are currently available. Lawn signs can be decorated and personalized. A $5 donation for each sign is suggested.
Other projects in the works include bumper stickers and kindness art projects for children.
For more information contact: spreadkingkindness7@gmail.com
Kindness in the Workplace
Bruce Abel and Steve Christiansen are available to meet with management or staff teams to discuss workplace kindness. Bruce and Steve can help focus on team strengths that can promote the recognition and appreciation of thoughtful kindness as a standard organizational value. There is no cost.
For more information contact: Bruce Abel or Steve Christiansen
Kindness in Communication
People interested in Nonviolent/Compassionate Communication (NVC) are encouraged to visit the website of the Oregon Network for Compassionate Communication where they can learn about NVC activities, read articles about applying the process, join the Eugene-Springfield Google Group, learn about the Eugene-Springfield Facebook Group, and sign up for the monthly newsletter
Kindness and Youth
The Kindness and Youth Interest Group will be facilitated by Maggie Donahue. This interest group plans to gather information about kindness initiatives currently in place in local schools. To participate or get more information contact: Maggie Donahue
Kindness in Leadership
Participants in this group are encouraged to check the forum for ideas to be posted about how to infuse kindness into leadership roles. For individuals interested in joining this group, contact Bingham Powell after mid-July.
Brainstorming Kindness
The Brainstorming Kindness Interest Group met in May and decided to focus their efforts on creating bumper stickers with messages of kindness. This group will work with the Kindness in Signs group to create the bumper stickers.
For more information contact: spreadingkindness7@gmail.com
Social Media and Kindness
The Social Media and Kindness Interest Group met in May. At this time no further meetings are planned however you are encouraged to view the video below and post it to your favorite social media platforms.
Sharing Kindness
Please view and share the video below
Signs of Kindness
By Stan Paine
An important strategy for spreading kindness is to practice intentional messaging. Signs, cards and other means communicate positive messages where we live, work and socialize. My wife and I have done this by placing a “Choose Kindness” sign at the end of our driveway and by placing “Choose Kindness” cards on placemats at a recent dinner for friends. Both strategies stimulated lively discussion about the message and requests by friends for copies of the sign and cards.
Last week we shared copies of the “Choose Kindness” cards and the “Peace Pledge” to children attending a week-long day camp called Peace Village. We invited the children to share the messages with their family this summer and with their teacher and principal when they return to school in the fall.
Here are ideas for spreading a kindness message in your community:
“Choose Kindness” Signs
- Place a sign in your yard.
- Ask your neighborhood school principal if you can place a sign in a prominent place on the school grounds. Enlist others to help place signs at every school in the district.
- Work with others to place signs at your workplace (or ask business leaders to place messages on message boards, billboards, grocery bags, or business messaging.)
- Place messages on buses and other “rolling message boards”.
“Choose Kindness” Cards
- Place a kindness card on placemats at meals with family and friends. Use it to start a discussion.
- Place a kindness card on your refrigerator, bathroom mirror, car dashboard, coffee cup, on your desk at work and other places where you will see it several times each day.
Other Signs of Kindness
- Add a kindness message to your email signature line, business cards or greeting cards you send to family and friends.
- Incorporate a kindness message in your social media postings.
By placing kindness messages in prominent places to be seen by others (family members, neighbors, work associates and strangers) you’ll intentionally increase awareness of spreading kindness in your community.
To find out how you can get a “Choose Kindness” sign or set of business cards, contact: spreadingkindness7@
Announcements
Doug Carnine and other interest group leaders are available for presentations to religious groups, service clubs, or other gatherings interested in learning more about Spreading Kindness actions and opportunities.
To request a presentation, contact: Doug Carnine or spreadingkindness7@gmail.com
Spreading Kindness Hired a Coordinator
We’d like to welcome LeeAnn Sheehan as our new part-time Coordinator. LeeAnn recently retired from Advancement at the University of Oregon. Previously she worked in the College of Education. LeeAnn also co-founded WorkLife Connections, a consulting firm offering resources and services to businesses and organizations. She has served on non-profit boards including Girl Circus and Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestras.
Volunteer Opportunities
Spreading Kindness – Lane County is looking for someone to lead a volunteer group. The purpose of the volunteer group is to encourage more people to volunteer for programs that help the homeless. The Volunteer Leader will have the support of the Coordinator and will become a member of the Spreading Kindness Steering Committee. If you have experience working as a volunteer, are familiar with some of the homeless services offered in Lane County, and are able to assist/mentor others interested in volunteering, please contact: spreadingkindness7@gmail.com
The Kindness in Signs interest group is looking for somone who can be a resource for people and organizations that want to include kindness art projects in schools, camps, and neighborhood events. Projects might include painting lawn signs, designing bumper stickers, etc. If you want to help promote the creative expression of kindness, please contact: spreadingkindness7@gmail.com