Kindness begets kindness. So, wanted to create a space to share and amplify stories of kindness with the hope that it inspires a chain reaction.

Theda Sandiford

The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me happened in January 1999. My condo building burned down during an ice storm. Although the fire didn’t originate in my unit, I lost nearly everything and didn’t have replacement insurance. It was one of the lowest moments in my life. When my former boss heard what had happened, he did something extraordinary: he gave me a blank check and told me to write in whatever amount I needed to get back on my feet. I was deeply moved by his generosity and the belief he had in me during such a difficult time. Read more>>

Katie Lee Ellison

I’m a Pisces, so I’m not one for superlatives. Anything I describe as -est immediately makes me think of something that competes. But I’ll say that it gets me right in the heart when anyone decides to say something nice about Nonfiction for No Reason, the org I run. Whether it’s a DM or an email, a public statement into a mic or on social media, if it’s a reader, an audience member, someone who runs a venue, a mentor, a teacher, or a writer I admire: it means everything. I put so much of myself into NFNR and creating a community that supports itself, that people love, and use to get inspired. When I hear back that it’s working, it’s the best. I know it can be hard for people to speak up and say what something meant to them, so I don’t take it lightly, and it helps keep me going. Read more>>

Lena Galasko

“Thank you to my first employer who gave me the opportunity for my very first job when I had so little experience.” I came across that quote recently, and it really resonated with me. The same sentiment applies to the first client I had as a photographer. For me, it was a friend who reached out on Facebook, asking if I could photograph her beautiful family. At the time, she didn’t realize she was my very first “real” client, and I’ll always be appreciative of that. I’m thankful she took a chance on me, even though I was still a beginner. Even more so, I’m grateful for her positive attitude when the weather didn’t cooperate. We had planned for a sunset shoot, but when we arrived at the beach in LA, the skies turned completely gray and stayed that way throughout the entire session. Read more>>

Emily Canibano

If I could change the education system, the first thing I would address is the lack of individualization in public education. Far too often, students are expected to fit into a standardized curriculum that doesn’t account for their unique learning styles, strengths, or challenges. The cookie-cutter approach to education, where all students are expected to meet the same benchmarks at the same pace, does a disservice to those who need more tailored support or advanced challenges. This one-size-fits-all model not only limits academic potential but also fails to foster a love of learning for many students. Read more>>