world changers / theme: we need more kindness

Let’s talk kindness

For our World series events we touch on issues affecting the world and the solutions we think we can implement right now to make the world the place we know it can be. Four our fifth event we had an inspiring conversation about what it means to be a kind human.

We heard from 12-year-old Sammie Vance, founder of Sammie's Buddy Bench Project and the Sammie Smiles podcast. Our special guest, Kathleen Murphy will shared about GivingTuesday, a non profit that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. And our co-creator, Sara Surani, shared her own story with us, as well as ways in which she leads a life where being kind, is a big part of it.

Hosted by Laura Peña, Sammie Vance, Sara Surani and Lilly Platt.

Our events are open and free to girls 12+ from all over the world and the women who would like to support them.

““You don’t have to be an adult to make a difference,
you can be a kid too! It’s good to be Kind” ”

— — Sammie Vance

Guest presenters

sammie vance

Twelve years old Sammie Vance from Indiana is changing in the world through kindness.

When she was just 8, Sammie learned about Buddy benches at her summer camp. In her words “If someone is lonely they can go sit on the bench and others know to go up and ask them to play” She doesn’t want anyone to feel alone and at times would have used it herself. Also a place for new kids to sit and those feeling left out or wanting to make a new friend.

She shares with People Magazine: “I don't want anyone to feel lonely" so she took action, spoke to her principal at school and her Sammie's Buddy Bench Project was born.

Sammie has also recently published a book, Inspire the World: A Kid's Journey to Making a Difference, about her efforts to inspire other kids to give back.

This year Sammie was named one of 7 ‘Girls Changing the World’ by People’s Magazine.

Sammie is also the co-creator for the World Changers event series and a supporter of girls around the world!

Listen to Sammie’s Podcast “Sammie Smiles”

Learn more about Sammie here.

Sara surani

Sara Surani is a Pakistani-American who loves listening and learning about stories of people from all over the world. She loves working with youth to find beauty and power in their own stories and to using that power to create an impact in their communities.

Sara graduated from Harvard University and is also the is a co-founder of a health education program in South Texas focused on educating over 20,000 young children about healthy living. For the past few years Sara has been working in remote communities in the Amazon jungle and helping start the first public holistic education school in Peru.

Kathleen Murphy

GivingTuesday

GivingTuesday is a movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world.

Our special guest, Kathleen Murphy Toms will share with us stories of people making an impact around the world. We are excited to learn of ways to bring generosity and kindness in small ways to our own communities.

Kathleen leads digital strategy for GivingTuesday. Kathleen studies the use of digital tools within social movements, particularly their use in shifting power, creating mass mobilization, and inspiring radical generosity. Kathleen has coached thousands of social impact leaders and grassroots organizers from nearly every continent on how to mobilize groundswell movements to create systemic change. She is an adjunct instructor at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs where she teaches social changemakers how to develop innovative content marketing and digital strategies to activate and engage new audiences.

Learn more about Giving Tuesday here.