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Kind Leader Spotlight Series

Introducing our Kind Leader Spotlight Series! Every Friday we will be showcasing leaders who demonstrate the positive change we hope to create in the world.

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The Significance of Empathy and Kindness Today

As the meeting progressed, it became clearer to me that everyone in the room believed empathy and kindness are two values that we hold near and dear to ourselves. By focusing on the issue of mass incarceration, we are deriving change by using some of our most cherished values.

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Creating An Organization From the Ground Up: Confident, Healthy Women

However, we were grateful for the experience from participating in the Call For Kindness contest because it prepared us in terms of finding partner organizations and laying out deadlines before starting. With support from our school, The Hewitt School, we began by initiating a drive.

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What a Day in an Immigration Courtroom Taught Me

Witnessing these hearings inspired me to work with the Riley’s Way Council to help immigrants in any way we can.

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We Give Thanks

The kids at the Sisulu-Walker Charter School reminded me of what Thanksgiving truly is about...they taught me that in our fast-paced world, it’s important we don’t forget the power of kindness.

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Partnership in the Making

This was a unique and exciting evening. At a topical level, it highlighted the need for more conversation between different groups working for the overall good, and it pinpointed issues around technology that might not have otherwise been raised.

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A Change-Making Weekend

To most, kindness is a virtue or trait but, because of Riley's Way, more people are understanding that it’s about shining through difficulties and to “always have a smile on your face” as Riley said.

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Riley’s Way is My Way

Kindness is a crucial trait to have if you intend on creating effective and sustainable change, and it doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive with taking initiative, working hard, or making yourself heard.

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Immigration, Language, and Empathy

Having had the chance to observe the realities of those facing the government in immigration court with the Riley’s Way Council members was an important experience for all of us in practicing empathy and gaining a deeper insight into the lives of those we wish to help and support.

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A Weekend Away with the Changemakers of Our Generation

The atmosphere was celebratory and joyful. I could feel the kindness surrounding me throughout the entire weekend.

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A Magical Weekend

A blog by Riley’s Way Co-Founder Ian Sandler about his experience at the Youth Leadership Retreat

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“What the Constitution Means to Me”: Riveting, Beautiful, Personal

What I liked the most about the show was how the audience was able to interact with Heidi’s points, especially during the debate she did with a brilliant young woman named Rosdely Ciprian.

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Sharing Riley’s Way with Teach for America

Along with explaining more about this incredible day where so many students came together and our upcoming film project, our presentation developed into a strong, engaging conversation.

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A Reflection

Leading our Council was an endeavor filled with joy and fulfillment, along with a lot of hard work and persistence. Through this adventure, I learned more about myself, my peers, and how we worked effectively as a group.

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Donating a Difference

Accepting one’s queer identity is difficult enough, but for many, finding a community where they can safely express themselves is impossible. I was lucky enough to be born into a loving family and have a supportive group of friends. However, many are not as lucky.

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Teen-to-Teen Letter Writing Event | 5 Ways You Can Help

With the intention of providing support and showing care to other teenagers, on May 2nd the Hewitt School and Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria Riley’s Way Council hosted an event dedicated to writing letters to immigrant teens in a detention center in Homestead, Florida.

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How Interning for Riley’s Way Greatly Impacted Me

Kindness, empathy, leadership, and making connections are the core values of Riley’s Way Foundation. Through these values, more than 1,000 children from private and public schools have been positively impacted as they learn to spread kindness.

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Families Behind Bars: A Glimpse Into the Lives of Forgotten Women

On a rainy Monday on May 14th, a few of my fellow Riley’s Way Council members, Lauren, Laura and I headed over to St. Phillip's Church to attend the Families Behind Bars event (a #kNOwJusticeHarlem series) organized by the organization Circles of Support.

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The True Meaning of Family Matters

When we are sick, sad, or need support, we can always count on our families. Despite hardships or obstacles families stay united, because families are not solely a bond based on blood relation.

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Being A “Panther” At The Browning School

On Friday, May 31st, the fifth grade students at The Browning School, an all-boys private school in New York City, spoke about issues that “broke their heart” in New York City.

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357 Days: Family Matters Celebration

Approximately 357 days had passed since our Sisterhood Dinner with the women of the Talk2ME and Circles of Support groups at St. Phillips Church in Harlem of 2018. On May 21st of 2019, we gathered with many of the same women, like Wanda and Melinda, along with many new faces, and the women's families.

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Through The Eyes Of My Father

“Vamos a ir al rancho.” We are going to the ranch, said my cousin. The seven year old in me did not understand what the ranch was.

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The Beauty of Kindness In Incarceration

Every year, the Riley’s Way Council makes an effort to find solutions to an issue in their community that breaks their heart. The Council decided to continue to work on building connections and relationships with women who have been impacted by incarcerated, partnering with the organization Talk2Me.

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The Difference 6 Months Makes: Reflecting on Our Councils’ Visit to Sisulu-Walker School

One of the many things we do in the Riley’s Way Council is our program for elementary schools where Council members teach a Riley’s Way curriculum about kindness and empathy-building to third and fourth-grade students in October and then go back in May.

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Teen-to-Teen Letter Writing Event with Riley’s Way Council

Two of Riley’s Way leading values are kindness and empathy. For the better part of this school year, my council members and I (half from The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria and half from The Hewitt School) brainstormed and planned how we could implement these values into a project that could give back to our community.

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Get to Know Our Teen Leaders at Riley’s Way

In the spirit of Riley Sandler, who was only nine years old when she passed away, her parents, Ian and Mackenzie Sandler created this foundation.

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News from Evans, Riley’s Way Council Member

In recent Riley’s Way meetings between The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem and The Nightingale Bamford School, the Riley’s Way Council has focused on building trust between the police and local communities, as well as working with women who have been impacted by incarceration.

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5 Signs You Are the Toxic Friend (and Didn’t Realize it)

You may not realize it, but you might be acting in ways that are toxic to your relationship.

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5 Things to Do if You’re Drifting Apart from A Friend

Friendships are often based on what we have in common, but sometimes our interests can diverge and suddenly what was once a close friendship starts to shift. What do you do when you feel like you are drifting apart, now that you aren’t bonding over a similar lifestyle?

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5 Requirements for a Strong Friendship

Trust, Equality, Compassion, Honesty, Independence

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We Are Never Getting Back Together

This summer, the One Love Foundation and Riley’s Way Foundation teamed up to highlight the roles empathy, kindness, and respect play in healthy friendships.