“You are the only you that will ever walk the face of this earth…BE KIND.” – Lauren Parsekian, co-founder of Kind Campaign

Mean girls, bullies, gossip – why do we see so much “mean” in schools today? Kind Campaign is a movement and documentary that’s not afraid to ask this question. The campaign is based upon the powerful belief in KINDness, that brings awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl “crime” and bullying.

The movement was founded by Lauren Parsekian and Molly Stroud after they graduated from college and were tired of the conflicts they witnessed throughout their lives between girls. They are now speaking at schools across the country and spreading the love. Watch the trailer for the Finding Kind documentary below to see clips from the film. You can help spread the message of the campaign by filling out an apology or pledge on the website, www.kindcampaign.com.

A Message to Girls From the Kind Campaign

More About the Kind Campaign

Through the Kind Campaign documentary, we hope to display the often-vicious way females treat each other, and to bring to light the serious affects these experiences can have on girl’s self-esteem and personal growth. Unfortunately, the affects of this issue extend further than a damaged self-esteem. Through research, personal experience, and interviews, we have seen these experiences result in depression, eating disorders, drug use, alcoholism, attempted suicide and actual suicide.

On September 1st 2009, we packed our bags and began a month and a half long journey across the country. Packed within a Kind Campaign decorated minivan donated by Toyota, we traveled over 10,000 miles collecting stories from hundreds of females all over America. The road trip exposed us to hundreds of incredible stories and affirmed the fact that this is a universal issue that affects ALL females. There is something very sad happening within the female community. We are not supporting one another and instead are continuously tearing each other down and comparing ourselves to one another. On October 9th, we wrapped the film with new insight, perspective and inspiration to get this film out to the world and create change! We are confident that the documentary will shock and sadden you but will instill you with sense of hope for the future.

Visit www.kindcampaign.com for more information.

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What better way to bring together an entire school then a little bit of fun and lip-synching? Watch this cool music video featuring almost 4,000 students and staff at Martin High School in Arlington, Texas. The idea for creating the video was sparked when the students told administrators that there was “no sense of community or family” at the school, and this could cause serious problems like bullying and isolation.

Shot in one take, the special “Lip Dub” video includes every student, teacher and staff member in the school, with select students taking turns lip-synching songs, and everyone else having fun and creating excitement in the background. The video is pretty awesome and creative, especially the cause of building community! (We’re just wondering who is going to clean up afterwards?;)

Here’s a little bit more about the story from WFAA, the local Dallas news station:

“As humans, we’re social beings,” said Martin senior Chris Leyda. “Things go wrong when we’re not in contact with others.”

Chris said he’s seen how easy it can be to become disconnected and isolated. Experts say that can lead to bullying, or just plain indifference.

“There was a kid that has autism, and he felt like he was picked on, and he literally told me that I was the only friend he’d talked to in a year or so,” Chris said.

You might see that kid in this video, or someone like him. The video shoot was enormous fun, with enormous benefits.

“When you can get every student involved, then it creates a sense of family and belonging,” said Nel Fielding, the Arlington ISD director of counseling.

She added that after an experience like this, students will be more likely to protect each other, and less inclined to hurt each other.

In their 11-minute video, they all belong to each other.

Source: WFAA.com

Video and Image Sources: Vimeo and The Warrior Post (Martin High School’s student publication)

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Today’s tweens and teens lead busy lives, especially with school starting back up again. Sometimes in the bustle between classes, homework and after school activities they may not take the time to practice healthy habits.

17-year-old Alyson Stoner knows how challenging it can be to stick to a healthy routine, especially with a packed schedule. She began performing in dance at the age of three and at the age of six, she took modeling classes that eventually lead to her dancing and acting career.

Now, Alyson can be seen in two new movies, “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” which premieres September 3rd at 8pm/7c on the Disney Channel, and “Step Up 3D.” She is currently on the road with her mother touring with The Jonas Brothers and the cast of “Camp Rock 2,” promoting the movie. Alyson has also been working on her music, including the inspiring song “Make History.” Her life has been anything but simple; but, with the help of her mother, they are able to keep up great health habits even on the road.

Fresh off the Camp Rock 2 premiere and in the midst of touring, Alyson and her mother LuAnne are spreading the word together of how young people can make healthy and smart choices. In this interview with Dreamer ENT’s media partner The Valder Beebe Show, Alyson and her mom discuss how to build strong healthy foundations when leading busy and active lives, from things like fitness, good hygiene, nutrition and proper oral health.

Did You Know?

A few years ago Alyson launched The Alyson Stoner Project, which she called an “Original Dance Instructional Musical Fitness revolution!” Click here to learn more about the project.

MORE ABOUT ALYSON STONER:
Alyson Stoner is a multi-talented young actress, singer and dancer. She is well known as “Sarah” from the Cheaper By The Dozen franchise and was a main character, “Caitlyn,” in the Disney Channel hit original movie Camp Rock with the Jonas Brothers. In addition to being a diverse actress, she is also trained in many different styles of dance including ballet, tap and jazz. Her breakout performance was in Missy Elliott’s music video Work It followed by two more music videos and many live performances with her.

On the big screen, Alyson starred as the title character Alice in Alice Upside Down co-staring Lucas Gabrial and Luke Perry (where she also sang the title song) and played Channing Tatum’s little sister in Step Up. Alyson also has many successful voiceover projects including the voice of “Isabella” on the award-winning animated series Phineas & Ferb (Disney Channel), Lilo & Stitch, W.I.T.C.H., “Holly” in the DVD series Holly Hobbie, “Pompoko”, Kung Fu Magoo (Cole and Dylan Sprouse), Kingdom Hearts and is the “Little Engine” in The Little Engine That Could. She was cast as “Sally” on the longest running Disney Channel show Mike’s Super Short Show, recurred on the Suite Life of Zack & Cody as “Max” and shot her own pilot for the Disney Channel titled Better Days. She also made guest appearances on Disney’s That’s So Raven and the hit series Drake and Josh on Nickelodeon.

This year will bring the release of Step Up 3 (in which she returns as “Camille”) and Disney Channel’s Camp Rock: The Final Jam where she’ll reprise her role as “Caitlyn.” Alyson is also currently in the studio writing and recording her own music. She recently released a new single in July 2010 called “Make History.”

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Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution produced by American Idol host Ryan Seacrest made a wave this season and is a great inspiration to start eating healthier. Jamie Oliver, chef and TV personality, is cooking up a food revolution in America – battling obesity and challenging schools to serve fresher meals. He did a similar show in his home country Britain and was able to change the way schools there serve lunch – with less processed foods and more natural foods.

Five teens from Virginia (pictured above), Brittany, Marisa, Robert, Brian, and Emily, also joined in on the revolution. In some of the episodes they helped to cook meals for their classmates and even for their senator and local community leaders to help raise funding that would bring change to the cafeteria. Along the way they talked their life experiences and how eating healthier means living longer and better.

Though the season for the show recently ended, you can still watch past episodes online. Click here to visit the Food Revolution website if you want to catch all of the episodes. You can join in on the revolution too. Click here to sign Jamie Olivers healthy food in schools petition to help change the way lunch is served at your school.

Check out the clips from the show below where five teens join Jamie in the kitchen, and where college students set up a cool cooking flash mob dance:

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The team raises money for the Green Kits by providing babysitting and tutoring services to families. The money earned is then donated to Live Green Learn Green and in turn the volunteers receive community service hours. It’s wonderful that they’re helping others, and allowing other young people to make a change in their community.

A Standard Live Green Learn Green Efficiency Kit Includes:
- Compact Fluorescent (CF) light bulbs
- Weather stripping for window crevices
- Window insulation film
- Door sweeps
- Water heater insulation blanket

Watch this video of the girls describing some of the methods they use, and how making a few changes around the house can conserve energy. Maybe you can start a similar project in your own community, or even make some of these green changes around your own house.

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That’s the question 14-year-old Wyntergrace Williams, daughter of television show host Montel Williams, is asking as she speaks out in favor of vegetarian school lunch options. Supported by the organization PCRM, she’s spreading the word about vegetarian diets, and launched a petition to Congress to ask for changes in school lunch menus. She recently spoke about her passion for more veggie options in a recent television ad (which you can watch below), and she also wrote a letter to the Obama girls, Malia and Sasha, for their support.

More About Wyntergrace and the Campaign:

Wyntergrace Williams, daughter of television show host Montel Williams, has joined PCRM to help spread the word about the importance of vegetarian options in school lunches.

Wyntergrace is 14 years old, and three years ago, she changed to a vegetarian diet out of compassion for animals and for health concerns. She persuaded her mother to join her, and now she wants to make sure kids across the country have access to healthful vegetarian foods.

Wyntergrace attends a middle school in Greenwich, Conn. She loves her school but noticed it needed more vegetarian options in the lunch line. Realizing that many other students were also looking for healthier cafeteria meals, she started a petition to get healthful foods in her school.

The petition said, “Whether we choose them out of compassion for animals, or because of concerns about health or the environment, we all benefit from having plant-based meals available. We want to work with our cafeteria to make these new healthful offerings a success.”

The school was not hard to convince. PCRM is now working with the food service managers to test and implement new vegan meal options.

Eager to help all students find healthier foods at school, Wyntergrace was the first to sign PCRM’s national petition to Congress—and she asks that all students and concerned adults across the country sign the petition to gain support for more vegetarian options in school lunches.

Does your school cafeteria serve too much greasy, unhealthy food? Bad food is unfair to you and can risk your health over the long run. But now is the time for you to ask Congress for the healthy school lunches that you deserve.

Tell Congress that students deserve healthy foods—more vegetables, fruits, vegetarian foods, and healthful nondairy beverages.

Learn more about Wyntergrace’s petition drive to persuade Congress for more vegetarian options in school meals by visiting www.HealthySchoolLunches.org.

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