A Little Bit Of Kindness Goes A Long Way

In our recent team meeting, AMEND Together Club Specialist DaMarrus Miller shared best practices for how to get attendance up in clubs. “I might not remember every kids name, but I definitely remember their faces. I give each person a hug, handshake, eye contact, or whatever they are comfortable with so that they know I see them and I support them.” Miller exemplifies the AMEND Together message in each club with each participant, and he takes it one step further. Not only does Miller treat his students with dignity and respect, but also he treats everyone he meets that way.

Photo by: Raw Pixel

Part of the AMEND Together mission is to cultivate healthy masculinity while challenging a culture that supports violence. If we take Mr. Miller’s words and actions as an example, we can learn how to treat everyone that comes into our life. Instead of assuming what a person’s ulterior motives are or what they are “hiding” from us, let’s take a breath and find a way to connect with that person. It doesn’t take much more than a smile, eye contact, and willingness to make that person feel seen and heard. In doing so, you are promoting healthy communication and showing that even the smallest human connection has a huge impact.

We believe that taking the time to get to know someone until you recognize their face - even if you don’t remember their name - is one of the many ways we can challenge our culture every day. In a world of social media, video games, and violence, we are always engrossed in our technology. Let’s take a break for human connection.