Award-Winning 'Finding Kind' Film to be Screened at York High School

Submitted by Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205.

Elmhurst, IL - Growing up has never been easy, but in today’s high-tech world, it’s never been easier to be bullied or be a bully.

Two York High School students, junior John Clugg and freshman Katy Clugg, decided to make a difference in their own community by bringing the award-winning film Finding Kind to Elmhurst. In order to do this, they wrote and were awarded a Thiems grant through the District 205 Foundation for Educational Excellence.

“We are both very excited to bring this film to Elmhurst. We have a close friend from summer camp that was bullied so badly she changed schools. We wanted to try to prevent something like that from happening here in Elmhurst, and we really hope that Finding Kind can help make kids aware of stories like our friend's,” state the two siblings.

The film explores the negative effects of bullying and the positive power of kindness. Two screenings will be offered on Monday, April 18, in York High School’s Baker Auditorium: 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

The film is 77 minutes in length. Its presentation is being co-sponsored and supported by York Community High School and the Elmhurst Commission on Youth.

Following the April 18 showings, parenting experts and Elmhurst residents Todd Adams and Cathy Cassani Adams, creators and hosts of Zen Parenting Radio, have volunteered to lead a question-and-answer session to help process insights gained.

“We have made the entire month of April ‘Kindness Month’,” said Cathy. The couple just discussed how emotional intelligence and cognitive control lead to our ability to be kind in a March 28 podcast (#298). As part of their Let’s Get Real Series, they will also lead a talk on “Teaching Kids to Be Kind” on Tuesday, April 6, at Fitz’s Spare Keys. The registration link is available on their website, zenparentingradio.com.

Kind Campaign is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization that brings awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl bullying through their global movement, documentary film, in-school assemblies and educational curricula. For more information, please visit findingkind.indieflix.com.