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.

The Runout

After a wonderful gig at the SC Coast in spring of 2023 (hired by Building Anglers to play for the Cobia Fly Invitational), Kelley and Jeff met a wonderful new fan. After drinks and conversation, he asked if we eat meat, traded information, and promised pork chops….Like the best he’s ever had. Read more>>

Rosalinda Edwards

I have been blessed to be associated with some great women in my life. Women who guide, inspire, and love on me. I have been blessed to have them invest and support me. Through my journey I have worked to create safe spaces around my friends, colleagues, and associates. Every year for my solar return I facilitate some type of wellness retreat. I asked all attendees for a small donation and a friend that had attended all four weeks and was thoroughly pleased with the work I was doing acknowledged me. She ended up investing a substantial amount into my business and at the time it was such a blessing, because not only did she inspire me her gift expediated growth in my business, and for that I will forever be grateful for her. Read more>>

Elizabeth Figgie

I recently applied for an arts opportunity. After submitting my application, I took a moment to reflect on how I was feeling, and more so, how I wanted to feel moving forward. It had been a long process, and it felt important to check in with myself and be intentional with my frame of mind. I felt proud of myself for taking a shot at a big thing, I was nervous to hear the results, but mostly, I felt a lot of gratitude. So many people had supported me through the process. A fellow artist who had been involved with the organization in the past shared about his experiences and talked through concepts with me early on. My sister and several friends read drafts of my proposal and gave feedback. Very dear mentors agreed to be references. My housemate bought me two of my favorite desserts to celebrate submitting my application. I received so much enthusiasm and support from my community. I didn’t expect to feel so loved for an ultimately small-in-the-grand-scheme project that may not go anywhere. It was a sweet reminder that we often don’t do things alone. Read more>>

Taylor White Moffitt

I grew up on the East Coast where competition, performance and fitting in (instead of belonging) was the training program. And I was a good student. I disconnected from myself, I pretended, I performed like the best of them. And in that process, I lost who I was and what mattered most. From that experience (and a few others) I decided I never wanted to be married or have children. Fast forward to my late 20’s when I went on a date. Read more>>

Cynthia Dawson

I really love this question because it brings back so much emotion. It takes me all the way back to the very beginning of my journey when I was a hobbyist photographer. I was still shooting on my entry-level DSLR and the kit lens when my daughter was diagnosed with cancer. She was in the hospital and the doctors were trying to figure out a good treatment plan for her when a few of my close friends gifted me a 35 mm prime lens. That gift gave me so much hope and happiness at a time when I felt like the world was coming down around me. I don’t think that lens left my camera for months! I used it to document so many special moments with her during her last year of life with our family. It still means the world to me that others thought of me during that time and supported me in preserving her memory through my photographs. Read more>>

Adam Miguel Estevez

The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was from Jesus. That’s right, Jesus. In the middle of high school, I received unusual new news: I was diagnosed with bone cancer. Ewing’s Sarcoma carried a deadly prognosis. I was slated to undergo back surgery along with a year of chemotherapy if I lasted. I received a ton of support from friends and family around me in the form of cards, flowers, phone calls, and beautiful, loving words. However, it was Jesus Gondarias’ gift that really hit me. Jesus was not a close friend but someone who was always genial and welcoming when I would see him. One day, Jesus approached me with a baseball and told me it was his gift to me. I wasn’t sure what to think of a used baseball as a gift for someone going through cancer but I thanked him and went on my way. Later, I learned that the delivered baseball was from Jesus’ first homerun in his life. Not having much to give me materially, Jesus found what mattered him most and gave it to me. What a gift and lesson in human kindness. Read more>>

Slesha Patel

My first agency was incredibly small and new, and after almost a year with that agency, I was hoping to sign with a bigger, more established agency. I walked in a runway show in Kansas City, which was known to have the most competitive casting process. A lot of scouts from bigger agencies attend the show because of the caliber of the models. It was my third runway show, so I was nervous, excited, scared, and just hoping to not stand out negatively. After the show, I was standing with my family, and two agents from separate agencies approached me. That week, I had interviews with both. Relatively new to the industry and in my late teens, I didn’t know how to evaluate representation opportunities. I was open and honest with both agencies about my two offers, and after sharing the news with one of them, the scout got aggressive with me and borderline bullied me into signing with them. At the time, I thought they were simply more excited about me, and therefore, were “fighting” for me, but over a decade later I realized they did not have my best interests at heart and were simply being competitive with the other agency. I never went back to the other agency to let them know about my decision, so I essentially ghosted them. I spent the next 8 years signed with the agency that I felt “fought” for me, only to find out they were running scam after scam. I was repeatedly told I was one of the top 5 models at this agency, so I was booking enough that I was more blind to the scams. I also was new enough to the agency side of the industry that I didn’t know how to look out for scams. During the pandemic, I connected virtually with other models from the agency and realized what my agency was doing. I decided I’d give them the benefit of the doubt, and I asked them to help me sign in other markets. After numerous expenses later, they had not done anything to help move me forward, and I decided to move on. I knew that 8 years back, I had made the wrong decision and should have chosen the other agency. This industry has taught me to never be afraid to hear no from someone, so I decided to take a chance, and figuratively come crying back to the agency I didn’t choose initially. I applied through their website and added a small note reminding them they had met with me several years ago. Within an hour, I heard back and the agency said they wanted to meet with me the day after after my non-compete clause had finished. When I met with the agent, I had the opportunity to apologize in person. She mentioned she remembered me. She did say she had a model that looked a lot like me, but I had booked many jobs with her models recently, and she knew what I could contribute to the board, so she offered me a contract. I was blown away by her graciousness. I told her she could have been highly offended by me ghosting her years back. She could have been petty about how I chose the other agency over hers and used any time in the application/interview process to call me out, but she didn’t. I told her it spoke volumes to her character and what type of agency she is running. I finally felt like I was in the right place. In that initial meeting, we talked about signing in other markets since I was no longer based in Kansas City, and she gave me an honest answer about my age, height, and marketability. On the spot, she created a plan, which involved a low budget portfolio shoot and a clear timeline. This meeting was in December of 2021, and I am still just as overwhelmed by her kindness today as I was back then. Despite being one of the older and shorter models she represents in other markets, she has always taken chances on me and put her name behind me. Everything I have in this space is because of her, and I never let her forget how grateful I am. Read more>>

chancellor lawson

our scene here in the tri cities has always been something of value. full of special folks with huge talents that seems to have something in their DNA that makes them who they are. we are raised to help one another here. our music scene reflects that. there isn’t the competitive cut throat nature of the industry here, its more like one big (sometimes dysfunctional) family. Read more>>

Latasha Simpson

What is the kindest thing that anyone has ever done for me? Well that’s very difficult to pinpoint as I like to believe I’ve experienced many moments of kindness throughout my 40 years. However, In recent years I would say the kindest thing people do for us now is support our family business. For instance, we recently attended a Vendors crafts fair & my husband & I brought along my 14 year old son. He helped us load all of the furniture, set up the tent/display in brutal weather & networked for us- no easy task for a teen. That being said- he never complained & you should have seen him bursting with pride at all of the reactions of the attendees as they discovered our work. Moments like these when people continue to choose us, to connect with us- these moments broaden my sons idea of what a “job” can look like & what hard work can do. He experienced the culmination of planning, executing & perseverance. These lessons are impactful in ways that I am so grateful for. My son has seen this dream become reality- birthed from a need, a want, a lacking that we turned into an opportunity. It didn’t happen over night & he’s seen & experienced it all with us- the late nights, self doubt, new discoveries, disappointments & ultimately success. A few weeks ago I over heard him telling a friend: If you want something, you need to make it happen- it won’t just happen for you. If you know one thing about us, please know that our son is the nucleus of our business & the reason for why we keep going. While I love painting, it is merely the action that allows us more time with him, to watch him learn & grow. It allows us the freedom to show him the opportunities one can find when they continue to dream & work hard. That’s why I say supporting our family business is the kindest thing we experience because it has a ripple effect beyond a business, beyond a sale – it’s bigger than any of those things & for that I’m so grateful for each & every one our clients. It’s the reason I never forget a client & the piece they re-homed from our business. They are all an intricate part of my family. Read more>> 

Jillian Hanesworth

At one point while in college I decided to quit. It was all too much for me! I had lost my financial aid, I was working multiple jobs, my grades were low and I felt like the best thing to do for myself was to walk away and go back home to find a job. I went to visit with my advisor to get my withdraw form signed and he ripped it up. He refused to let me quit and aside from helping me reach my goal of completing college, he gave me my “why”. He helped me realize that I wanted to do the same for my community. When things feel too hard and the world feels like too much, I want to be the person to stop us from throwing in the towel so we can continue to demand better for ourselves. I didn’t know that I’d be an artist one day but I knew that who I was as a person was more important than what I do. My advisor gave me that gift and I’ll always be grateful to him. Read more>>

Brooke McGrady

Music is a tough business and finding genuine support, people who see your vision, and those who are in it for the love of the music isn’t easy. I have been very fortunate to have been led to the right people at the right time who believe in me and my mission. Without their help I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the things I’ve been able to accomplish. I am forever grateful for all of the support that has been shown to me throughout my journey. Read more>>

Allison Lee Conner

The kindest thing every done for me is truly impossible for me to quantify down to a single gesture or just one person or one occurrence. I have a village of beautiful; compassionate; generous; loving and kind souls who truly have gone the immeasurable distance for me as I balance motherhood; following the assignment that God has given me; serving with excellence in my present while keeping the faith in knowing that the best is still yet to come. My village have literally been the hands and feet of Jesus from blessing my children and I with transportation as well as coming alongside me when my paycheck could not make ends meet. My village has refortified my faith. Read more>>

SXMSIDY

Something that has really had a positive impact on me as an artist is the first time someone reached out to let me know that my music had a real impact on their life. I wrote a song called “Lot of Love” a little while ago. It has a dark atmosphere and explores themes of revenge in a relationship, unfaithfulness, and how love can drive our actions. A few weeks after releasing the track, a lady sent me a message on Instagram to share how deeply she connected with the song due to her own personal circumstances. Read more>>

Kat Goldberg

I am a self-taught artist who has only been painting for two years. So far, I have encountered some incredible artists who have been extremely supportive and helpful in my artistic journey. One of the skills I really wanted to learn when I started painting was how to paint people. Read more>>

Adria Green

One of the kindest things that anyone has done for me was when my students and youth leaders that I get the privilege to pastor, created a “money tree” for me. Read more>>