WICKLIFFE, Ohio — A brighter initiative is taking roots in Wickliffe.
The city, along with the Values-In-Action Foundation, has announced its official title of “Community of Kindland”.
“The community of Wickliffe is the first all embedded community of Kindland,” President and CEO of Values-In-Action, Stuart Muszynski said.
The new initiative is a push for the entire city to promote kindness, including city government, schools and residents.
“I was always taught to take care of your family and then your neighbors and then with you want to go a step further, take care of your neighborhood,” Mayor of Wickliffe, Joe Sackas said.
Under a national campaign called 'Just Be Kind' created by the Values-In-Action Foundation, Wickliffe pioneers the new title amid angst and sorrow after mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York.
“We are continuing that trend throughout to the youth and to other residents,” Sackas said.
“We believe that Wickliffe can set the example,” Muszynski said.
According to Muszynski, each month a new initiative or a new “kind goal” will pave the way, starting with Wickliffe’s high school with students, who pledged kindness themselves before the school year ended.
“It’s going next fall to the middle school and to the elementary school,” Muszynski said.
“Wickliffe, it’s a city surrounded by three freeways, but has nothing but heart in the middle,” Sackas said.