Our Stories

When we look back on 2022 and all we achieved together, we see so many positive sparks of change for our children.

Stand with us and urge lawmakers to include $550 million in new funding for Illinois schools.

Teachers are one of the most trusted voices on issues impacting education, and for good reason. They are in the classroom on a daily basis. They know what works. So when a group of educators told us recently that Illinois needs to improve the way we teach literacy, it’s on us to listen. They’ll tell […]

Today is Giving Tuesday and a busy email day, so I’ll make this short and sweet. Stand’s work in schools across the state, especially our work spreading kindness to students and educators through Teach Kindness, is only possible with the support of folks like you. Your generosity allows us to reach more classrooms and impact […]

Each Thanksgiving season I try to take a moment to pause and really reflect on what I’m grateful for. This year, what stands out in my mind are the many educators, students, families, and schools I’ve had the privilege to work with who have made it a priority to embrace kindness. Even with so much […]

You can just feel it when a school has made kindness one of their core values. Students seem at ease and the school’s environment is warm and welcoming. I feel it at Palmer Elementary in Chicago where special education teacher Tracy Caronia’s positive post-it notes left for students light up their faces with pride. She […]