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Reflecting on my Experience Working with Riley’s Way: The Power of Kindness

When I first learned about Riley’s Way, I was immediately drawn to their values of kindness, empathy, leadership, and connection-making, and their work — especially the Council program, as I think it so vital to practice kindness and empathy in school environments to create a supportive community that can help each other navigate the stresses of high school.

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Mental Health & Athletics

As leaders, we love pouring kindness into people around us. It makes us happy and it positively impacts the world, but if we don’t also care for ourselves, it can get hard on our mental health. To me, Care to Connect: Build a Kinder Tomorrow is a reminder that we need to make time for ourselves and focus on our mental health by implementing self-care in order to have a significant impact on the world.

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Looking Beyond Graduation: Catching up with intern Tess about the emerging Council alumni network

In late July, Thea sat down with Riley’s Way intern Tess Abraham, to discuss the projects she’s taken on so far during her internship. Read more below to learn about the emerging Council alumni network and to hear Tess’s expert advice about being an intern!

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The Interns of Riley’s Way!

Want to know more about what an internship entails at Riley's Way, the type of work being done in one, and overall what to expect? Read this interview below from our very own interns here at Riley’s Way to give you a hidden scoop of their experience working this summer!

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Raising Young Voices To The Inequality of Education

Every year, Riley’s Way Foundation Councils advocate and take action for a social issue selected by the youth Council members. This year, we, the Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Astoria and Hewitt School Council, chose inequity in education, specifically in standardized testing used to determine students acceptance or success.

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Reflecting on our Lunch and Learn

Before joining Riley’s Way I had always been interested in educational equity and how inequality alienates minorities in schools. However, after watching “Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools” by Monique W. Morris and Jacoba Atlas, with my fellow Council members I learned so much more about flaws in the education system and how Black girls are criminalized in schools.

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Riley’s Way During a Pandemic?

From the TYWLS of East Harlem and Nightingale Bamford school, spreading kindness and maintaining Riley Sandler's hopes in our neighborhood.

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Because Leaders Can’t Run on Empty: Riley’s Way’s All-Council Check-Ins center the importance of daily self-care habits

To document my favorite time spent as an intern here at Riley’s Way, I've created a visual collection, very vision-board inspired, of my favorite all council check-in themes.

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The Buddy Reading Experience with Shamima R.

An interview with Thea and Shamima, participants in the Buddy Reading Program

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What Do The Council Check-Ins Mean To Us?

The name says it all. An all-Council check-in is a space where members from the three Council cohorts of Riley's Way engage for thirty minutes. Now this space is unique because it is one where every Council member can gather with other young leaders like themselves.

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Meet Gia! An interview with Charley

Charley, a Riley's Way Ambassador, sits down with Gia Gambino, 2020 Call for Kindness Fellow and Council member, to learn about her work and involvement with Riley's Way.

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Questions & some answers, with Matthew Tengtrakrool

Hey There! I'm Brody Sandler, and this past year I had a chance to exchange some questions with one of our Call For Kindness winners, Matthew Tengtrakool.

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Kind Leader Spotlight Series

Introducing our Kind Leader Spotlight Series! Every Friday we will be showcasing leaders who demonstrate the positive change we hope to create in the world.

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The Significance of Participation

I realized that you do not have to be in-person to make connections, have conversations, or just be there for someone. You just need to be present, engaged, and kind to all. This was the concept that the Riley’s Way Youth Leadership Retreat significantly exposed and displayed among all.

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The Beginning of a Friendship at Riley’s Way

Because of Riley’s Way, we have both gained a friend for life. Riley’s Way has expanded our networks and gave us an opportunity to make connections we never thought we could.

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The Importance of Utilizing Your Entrepreneurial Mindset for Positive Change

While enduring a pandemic and our generation’s civil rights movement, I, along with many other young women, have a countless number of ideas to aid in the fight for more diverse, equitable, and inclusive spaces for all. At times, we creative leaders may doubt ourselves and our capabilities. To combat this self-conscious feeling, Ms. Grasso reminded us of the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset.

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Reflections on the 13th Film

"...I come out of watching “13th” feeling hopeful, not hopeless. This discussion is happening at my dinner table with my teenage kids on a regular basis. It is happening across the country, and not just on college campuses. It is happening at Riley’s Way because the teens we work with said it is an absolute necessity."

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The Beginnings of the Riley’s Way Alumnae Network

Riley’s Way has always been an active part of my own community, centering the voices of young leaders like myself to enact change, and so heading off to college without Riley’s Way was impossible to imagine. I hope to continue the lasting connections and projects I’ve been able to form because of my experiences with Riley’s Way.

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#BeKind21 – Riley’s Way Kindness Calendar

Riley's Way is excited to be joining Born This Way Foundation and over 150 other organizations in committing to kindness as a verb. Because leading today for a kinder tomorrow means making it an intentional act. Stay tuned, our full kindness calendar will be released on Sept 1st!

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Interning at Riley’s Way

As I have grown into the person I am today, I have taken on new leadership roles at Riley’s Way, shaping the programs I was a part of. I have cultivated my own definition of kindness. I believe kindness is radical.

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The intersection between self care and my GirlUp Leadership Summit experience

The GirlUp experience reminded me that so many beautiful and intelligent girls from all over the world have the same dreams and passions as I do! We may not have all been able to physically see each other in person, but an energy of unification, empowerment, and kindness radiated through my computer screen. 

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My (Virtual) Buddy Reading Experience

The buddy reading program started by Riley’s Way has changed my view of self-isolation.

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Conversations in Solidarity

In this time, we must reckon with the realities of injustice and systemic discrimination against black people in this country. We must face these realities and dedicate ourselves to antiracism and solidarity.

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Reese Potash interviewing Sonika, founder of the Birthday Giving Program

My name is Reese Potash, I’m from New York, and I’m 12 years old. I grew up in an empathic family, who loves helping others, and I’m so excited to be a part of this amazing foundation this year, and in the years to come.

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An Interactive Self-Care Workshop to do in your Community

Self-care: What is it and why is it so important, especially amidst such a hectic time?

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Kind Leadership Series | Earth Force

During the call, I was captivated by Grace’s many examples of passionate students able to enact meaningful change in their communities, both big and small, through the Community Action and Problem Solving Process. 

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The Significance of Empathy and Kindness Today

As the meeting progressed, it became clearer to me that everyone in the room believed empathy and kindness are two values that we hold near and dear to ourselves. By focusing on the issue of mass incarceration, we are deriving change by using some of our most cherished values.

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Creating An Organization From the Ground Up: Confident, Healthy Women

However, we were grateful for the experience from participating in the Call For Kindness contest because it prepared us in terms of finding partner organizations and laying out deadlines before starting. With support from our school, The Hewitt School, we began by initiating a drive.

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What a Day in an Immigration Courtroom Taught Me

Witnessing these hearings inspired me to work with the Riley’s Way Council to help immigrants in any way we can.

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We Give Thanks

The kids at the Sisulu-Walker Charter School reminded me of what Thanksgiving truly is about...they taught me that in our fast-paced world, it’s important we don’t forget the power of kindness.

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Partnership in the Making

This was a unique and exciting evening. At a topical level, it highlighted the need for more conversation between different groups working for the overall good, and it pinpointed issues around technology that might not have otherwise been raised.

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A Change-Making Weekend

To most, kindness is a virtue or trait but, because of Riley's Way, more people are understanding that it’s about shining through difficulties and to “always have a smile on your face” as Riley said.

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Riley’s Way is My Way

Kindness is a crucial trait to have if you intend on creating effective and sustainable change, and it doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive with taking initiative, working hard, or making yourself heard.

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Immigration, Language, and Empathy

Having had the chance to observe the realities of those facing the government in immigration court with the Riley’s Way Council members was an important experience for all of us in practicing empathy and gaining a deeper insight into the lives of those we wish to help and support.

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A Weekend Away with the Changemakers of Our Generation

The atmosphere was celebratory and joyful. I could feel the kindness surrounding me throughout the entire weekend.

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A Magical Weekend

A blog by Riley’s Way Co-Founder Ian Sandler about his experience at the Youth Leadership Retreat

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“What the Constitution Means to Me”: Riveting, Beautiful, Personal

What I liked the most about the show was how the audience was able to interact with Heidi’s points, especially during the debate she did with a brilliant young woman named Rosdely Ciprian.

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Sharing Riley’s Way with Teach for America

Along with explaining more about this incredible day where so many students came together and our upcoming film project, our presentation developed into a strong, engaging conversation.

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A Reflection

Leading our Council was an endeavor filled with joy and fulfillment, along with a lot of hard work and persistence. Through this adventure, I learned more about myself, my peers, and how we worked effectively as a group.

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Donating a Difference

Accepting one’s queer identity is difficult enough, but for many, finding a community where they can safely express themselves is impossible. I was lucky enough to be born into a loving family and have a supportive group of friends. However, many are not as lucky.

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Teen-to-Teen Letter Writing Event | 5 Ways You Can Help

With the intention of providing support and showing care to other teenagers, on May 2nd the Hewitt School and Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria Riley’s Way Council hosted an event dedicated to writing letters to immigrant teens in a detention center in Homestead, Florida.

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How Interning for Riley’s Way Greatly Impacted Me

Kindness, empathy, leadership, and making connections are the core values of Riley’s Way Foundation. Through these values, more than 1,000 children from private and public schools have been positively impacted as they learn to spread kindness.

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Families Behind Bars: A Glimpse Into the Lives of Forgotten Women

On a rainy Monday on May 14th, a few of my fellow Riley’s Way Council members, Lauren, Laura and I headed over to St. Phillip's Church to attend the Families Behind Bars event (a #kNOwJusticeHarlem series) organized by the organization Circles of Support.

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The True Meaning of Family Matters

When we are sick, sad, or need support, we can always count on our families. Despite hardships or obstacles families stay united, because families are not solely a bond based on blood relation.

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Being A “Panther” At The Browning School

On Friday, May 31st, the fifth grade students at The Browning School, an all-boys private school in New York City, spoke about issues that “broke their heart” in New York City.

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357 Days: Family Matters Celebration

Approximately 357 days had passed since our Sisterhood Dinner with the women of the Talk2ME and Circles of Support groups at St. Phillips Church in Harlem of 2018. On May 21st of 2019, we gathered with many of the same women, like Wanda and Melinda, along with many new faces, and the women's families.

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Through The Eyes Of My Father

“Vamos a ir al rancho.” We are going to the ranch, said my cousin. The seven year old in me did not understand what the ranch was.

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The Beauty of Kindness In Incarceration

Every year, the Riley’s Way Council makes an effort to find solutions to an issue in their community that breaks their heart. The Council decided to continue to work on building connections and relationships with women who have been impacted by incarcerated, partnering with the organization Talk2Me.

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The Difference 6 Months Makes: Reflecting on Our Councils’ Visit to Sisulu-Walker School

One of the many things we do in the Riley’s Way Council is our program for elementary schools where Council members teach a Riley’s Way curriculum about kindness and empathy-building to third and fourth-grade students in October and then go back in May.

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Teen-to-Teen Letter Writing Event with Riley’s Way Council

Two of Riley’s Way leading values are kindness and empathy. For the better part of this school year, my council members and I (half from The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria and half from The Hewitt School) brainstormed and planned how we could implement these values into a project that could give back to our community.

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Get to Know Our Teen Leaders at Riley’s Way

In the spirit of Riley Sandler, who was only nine years old when she passed away, her parents, Ian and Mackenzie Sandler created this foundation.

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News from Evans, Riley’s Way Council Member

In recent Riley’s Way meetings between The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem and The Nightingale Bamford School, the Riley’s Way Council has focused on building trust between the police and local communities, as well as working with women who have been impacted by incarceration.

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5 Signs You Are the Toxic Friend (and Didn’t Realize it)

You may not realize it, but you might be acting in ways that are toxic to your relationship.

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5 Things to Do if You’re Drifting Apart from A Friend

Friendships are often based on what we have in common, but sometimes our interests can diverge and suddenly what was once a close friendship starts to shift. What do you do when you feel like you are drifting apart, now that you aren’t bonding over a similar lifestyle?

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5 Requirements for a Strong Friendship

Trust, Equality, Compassion, Honesty, Independence

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We Are Never Getting Back Together

This summer, the One Love Foundation and Riley’s Way Foundation teamed up to highlight the roles empathy, kindness, and respect play in healthy friendships.