Robinson Students Unveil 'Grow Kindness' Project at Metlox
Jan 26, 2023 04:54PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Robinson Elementary students unveil their "Grow Kindness" project at Metlox Plaza in Manhattan Beach on Thursday.
Nearly 200 students took a walking field trip from Robinson Elementary to Metlox Plaza on Thursday to install their latest "Kindness Challenge" participatory art project.
The temporary art installation is composed of a heart formed by succulents, each with a “stake” that features hand-decorated art by Robinson students with messages encouraging the community to share in acts of kindness. Any member of the public is invited to take a succulent plant home with the understanding that they will commit to “grow” and spread kindness in exchange.
The art installation, a gift of art that aims to honor this year’s Great Kindness Challenge theme of “Grow Kindness,” will be in place through February 3.
“At Robinson, we believe kindness is contagious," said Robinson Principal Jackie O’Sullivan. "When we are kind to others, it encourages others to be kind in return. Kindness can create more kindness...We all have a ‘stake’ in growing kindness -that’s the idea behind the project,”
The students wrote messages on the stakes such as "Practice the Platinum Rule," "Be an Upstander," "Teach somebody something they don’t know," and "Help with a chore, give a smile."
The project is the centerpiece of the school’s Kindness Week festivities. Robinson students will spend the week practicing acts of kindness and carrying out "The Platinum Rule," which is about treating others how they want to be treated. Students will also be putting their “stakes” in other spots throughout the city.
Robinson’s students join over 18 million other students from over 36,000 schools from 115 countries around the world in taking part in the Great Kindness Challenge, which is held annually each January.
Robinson students have had a tradition of doing public art projects in connection with Kindness
Week. Previous projects include the “Kindness Chains” which were featured at Metlox last year
and the “Kindness Hearts” which hung in Civic Center Plaza and Joslyn Center. In 2017, Robinson students worked through a checklist of 24 acts of kindness.
Week. Previous projects include the “Kindness Chains” which were featured at Metlox last year
and the “Kindness Hearts” which hung in Civic Center Plaza and Joslyn Center. In 2017, Robinson students worked through a checklist of 24 acts of kindness.
Robinson is grateful to the City Council and Metlox for enabling this year’s project, said Robinson PTSA co-president Yea-Lan Chiang.
Those who enjoy the project are encouraged to write back to Robinson students and let them know at: [email protected].
Robinson Kindness Challenge Project [5 Images]
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