“‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’”
They hail from big cities and tiny rural towns all across the United States.
They are therapists, social workers, teachers, coaches, principals, sisters, aunts, moms, dads, grandmas, farmers, grad students, lawyers, doctors, nurses.
Some are master gardeners while others will be planting their very first seeds this spring. Some are just starting out, with the fresh and innovative perspective of 18 years, and others carry 70 years of life experience and wisdom.
Some are seeking to carry on a legacy of growing and gifting flowers handed down to them from parents or grandparents. Some have found solace and healing from terrible heartache and tragedy in the simple act of giving flowers. Some feel called to step forward in service after watching their communities suffer this past year.
Each of them brings to the team a huge heart and love for serving their community and a tremendous hope and faith in the power of kindness. And it will start in their gardens.
Each Ambassador will plant a flower garden this spring - in pots on balconies in the city; in backyards, tucked beside the swing set; in a parcel of land on a flower farm with a section dedicated to giving freely - with one shared goal: the intention of sharing flowers in goodwill and kindness.
Growing and giving flowers is a simple act. We know it isn’t novel, yet we also know that, oftentimes, the simplest acts are the most significant. We’ve seen - time and time again - that the beauty and simplicity of flowers is something that everyone can connect with. As Jennifer Howard says, “Flowers are universal and connect people when words aren't quite right. Nature unites us and our town needs the beauty and healing flowers provide! ... Our community needs to be reminded that nice people are the norm and are everywhere!”
The pandemic has taught and is teaching us how precious community and real, meaningful connection are. How clear it is that we all yearn for connection. 2020 helped us clearly see that we can all choose to slow our pace to look around and care for one another. As Marianna Sparks put it, “I live in an area where people are often frenzied and filled with stress. Even taking the time to smile at a passerby is rare. This is not because we are a community of bad people...just people on a mission to tackle daily duties until we can relax. I would love to help all of us remember that kindness does not throw us off track. That if our days are going to be filled with obligations, we might as well find beauty in the daily grind and in the people around us. I think the growing kindness project provides a beautiful opportunity to soften the walls that have been erected. I can't think of any words that could do that.”
As we read through Ambassador applications, we were brought to tears over and over again at applicants’ abilities to truly see the unique needs of their neighbors and communities.
Collectively, there’s a longing to give back to those who’ve given so much this past year: first responders, frontline medical workers, and hospital gardens; teachers and school staffs.
Many also listed their mission as finding ways to give flowers to isolated seniors and especially seniors in long term care: adding flowers to meal delivery programs, visiting isolated neighbors, delivering buckets of flowers to local senior living homes, and more. As Emily Saxon so beautifully noted, “Assisted and long-term living facilities have had an unprecedented year. In our area, they are not allowed to have visitors. Many haven't seen their family in nearly a year. That is devastating to me. Flowers are so personal and everyone has a memory with them. I want to share what I grow with those who are living in assisted and long-term facilities to let them know they are loved - even still, even by a perfect stranger.”
Over and over again, we read of the desire to connect underserved children and youth to flowers: school and neighborhood gardens, children creating bouquets to share, and after-school clubs, to name just a few ideas shared.
Heart-longings were courageously shared with a hope to truly see and remind others how much they matter: widows, widowers, those going through infertility, Special Olympics athletes, women’s shelters, domestic violence shelters, homeless centers, mental health patients, those considering placing their babies with adoptive families.
Over and over again, we were inspired and encouraged by applicants’ desires and commitments to use flowers as a catalyst to brighten days and bridge divides. Without a doubt, this incredible team is going to change the world, one stem at a time.
Their commitment to carrying the Growing Kindness project and mission forward will encourage you, and the beauty of their hearts and their vision for Growing Kindness in the coming year will inspire you, too.
It is my great honor to introduce you to our 2021 Growing Kindness Ambassador Team!
Click on each Ambassador’s image below to:
follow along (on Instagram), learn how they’re growing
and giving flowers, and cheer them on in kindness this year!
