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Here at Golden Ratio, we live by the Golden Rule: treat others the way you'd like to be treated - with kindness. Which is why we couldn't think of a better person to kick off our Heart of Gold series with than our friend Andra Liemandt, founder of The Kindness Campaign.
This week, we got the chance to chat with Andra and learn more about The Kindness Campaign. Keep reading for the full Q&A with the inimitable Andra Liemandt!
Q: What led you to start The Kindness Campaign?
A: A few years ago, a dear family friend took her own life. And tragically, this person was a child—not much older than my daughters. As you can imagine, when I heard the news… my world stopped.
We all knew this beautiful being, my daughters and me. And as a mother, this is the kind of thing that brings up the loudest, most unrelenting fear. What about my kids? How can I protect them?
We started talking, deeply, about our feelings. Sitting around our kitchen table, we began telling stories. We made notecards of our emotions, and started coming up with a sweet character who could help us with our feelings, and embarked on a little family art project that would one day become a journal. We called it “I Am Enough,” and I made a few Xeroxed copies.
Schools are asking for real guidance in this area, and as a culture, we are finally at a place where we’re taking emotional health seriously.
Q: What’s the best part of running TKC?
A: That’s a great question! I’m not sure I would say there is one best or favorite part of running TKC. What I would say is that I wake up every day and I love what I do!
I also have an incredibly talented, eager, and extremely passionate team who love what they do. Spending time with my team is the best! I love creating new and innovative ways to move the mission of TKC forward, and see the impact we provide in the community is one of the most rewarding experiences.
Q: What is one thing you wish more people knew about TKC?
A: The Kindness Campaign is a nonprofit that creates positive, accessible tools to build emotional health at home and in the classroom. We aim to normalize conversations about mental and emotional health. TKC’s emotional health tools are simple, fun, effective, and you can easily incorporate them into your everyday lifestyle.
We believe that people can strengthen these emotional and mental muscles daily, similar to fitness training. The Kindness Campaign creates the necessary tools that help bridge the gap between prevention and crises.
Q: What upcoming campaigns are you working on?
A: I’m SO excited about our large-scale community art project! The Kindness Campaign has teamed up with HOPE Campaign, The Texas Cultural Trust, and Amy’s Ice Cream to launch a large-scaleKind Mural projectthat aims to bring hope to our community and support children’s emotional health nationwide.
We want to know, “What does kindness mean to you?” Share your answer with us, and we’ll include it on our mural, featured prominently on South Congress in Austin, TX!
To learn more about Andra Liemandt and The Kindness Campaign, head to their website or their Instagram page!
