Together We Can Bring More Kindness in 2026

It Started With One Middle Schooler—and One Unkind Act

Fifteen years ago, a local 12-year-old was targeted by a cyberbullying incident that quickly spread through her school. She didn't feel safe. She didn’t want to go to class. Like so many young people facing bullying, the experience was isolating and overwhelming.

But something powerful happened next.

Instead of turning away, the community came together to build something better. Parents, caregivers, educators, and neighbors asked a powerful question: What if we responded with kindness, connection, and action? That moment was the spark that ignited Spark Kindness.

Today, Spark Kindness is part of a growing movement rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to feel valued, safe, and included. 

While progress has been made, the work is far from finished. The need for free programs that support mental health, counter hate, and address the rising loneliness and disconnection is greater than ever.

Through education, community partnerships, and dialogue, Spark Kindness helps create environments where:

• Children feel safer and more supported
• Families find strength and connection
• Neighbors stand up for dignity, empathy, and respect

This work also includes collaboration through the MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition—a partnership of schools, police departments, community and faith leaders, coaches, and parents working together to prevent and respond to identity-based bullying.

Behind each program is thoughtful planning, collaboration, and care.

All Spark Kindness programs are free to attend, ensuring that everyone—regardless of background or circumstance—can access support, connection, and tools for well-being. These efforts make it possible to host large-scale community conversations on mental health, offer trainings that help people bridge differences and navigate difficult conversations, and ensure programs are accessible through interpretation, translation, and inclusive services like American Sign Language.

Ongoing resources for resilience and well-being continue to support individuals and families long after an event ends.

Every act of kindness, every shared conversation, and every moment of understanding helps strengthen the fabric of our community. 

When communities stand together, kindness becomes more than an idea; it becomes action, inclusion, and real change. We’re deeply grateful to all who make this work possible and who continue to believe in a kinder, more connected future.

With deepest appreciation,

The Spark Kindness Team