Today’s Young People Are Incredible. Tell Them So.
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
By Melanie Lockwood Herman
Executive Director
“What we know from the research is that being known and understood is one of the most tender and transformative experiences we can have, and that magic connection of relationship ends up helping both the kid and the grown-up at the same time.”
– Stephanie Malia Krauss
When I was young, I routinely asked my Dad, “We have Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. Why don’t we have a Kid’s Day?” His response was the same, every year: “Every day is Kid’s Day, Melanie!”
In 1997, Camp Fire began Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®, which falls on March 21 this year. It’s a national holiday to celebrate young people by writing and sending notes and letters to tell the kids we know that they’re incredible—and why. Camp Fire, a youth-serving nonprofit that was a wonderful part of my childhood, believes that words matter, and that encouragement and kindness from an adult can change a life.
Since my daughter Jessie’s childhood was not as long ago as my own, I asked for her thoughts about this holiday and the power of expressing your feelings to a child. My first question was “What’s the most supportive thing an adult can say to a kid?” Jessie responded, “Something that emphasizes unconditional acceptance: I am here for you no matter what.”
Not every child feels supported to be their true selves each and every day. And today’s kids face mental health challenges, bullying, and stress that eclipses what many of us experienced at a young age. Jessie couldn’t recall a specific memory of a kind, affirming note from an adult, but she told me that “Anytime a loved one reminded me of unconditional acceptance, I had more of a willingness to take risks and fail.” Jessie’s sentiment reminded me of an important value that permeates the culture in Camp Fire: “mistakes aren’t failures; they are an important part of how we grow.”
I recall Jessie telling me, when she was young, that her favorite color was yellow. She also taught her Mom about day-color synesthesia, a condition where you see or associate certain colors with specific days of the week. For Jessie, colors also evoke emotion and connection to fond memories. Her apartment, and my office, are both decorated with art featuring yellow as the dominant color. It’s a color that speaks happy to us. When I asked Jessie how she would tell a child they are incredible, she replied: “Your light is shining bright today!”
If you’re struggling to find the words to express how much you admire a young person in your life, the team at Camp Fire has wonderful tools and resources! Visit https://campfire.org/kidday/ to check out writing tips, samples and examples.
Find Your Flame
Many of us joined the nonprofit sector after experiences that nurtured embers of empathy, compassion, and community service in our young lives. I hope you can recall the kindness of an adult who made you feel special, talented, and full of wonderful potential to change the world. Each day presents an opportunity for nonprofit sector veterans to help rising nonprofit leaders find and foster the same flame. Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® offers another chance to encourage emerging leaders to forge the paths that lead to their hopes and dreams—and to a better world.
Please take a few minutes from your day to write an encouraging note or letter to a kid in your life! During our conversation about AIKD this year, my amazing, talented and resilient daughter Jessie reminded me that “Words of kindness and encouragement can change someone’s day, or someone’s life!”
Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. She welcomes your stories about the lessons you are learning from the incredible kids in your life at Melanie@nonprofitrisk.org and 703-777.3504.
“First let me congratulate you on a conference well done. I had a great time at the Nonprofit Employee Benefits Conference and walked away with some valuable tools and questions that we’ll need to be addressing in both the short and long term. Thanks to you and your staff for all you do to provide us with quality resources in support of our missions.”
— Scott Brown, Mohonk Preserve
“BBYO’s engagement of NRMC to conduct a risk assessment was one of the most valuable processes undertaken over the past five years. Numerous programmatic and procedural changes were recommended and have since been implemented. Additionally, dozens (literally) of insurance coverage gaps were identified that would never have been without the work of NRMC. This assessment led to a broker bidding process that resulted in BBYO’s selection of a new broker that we have been extremely satisfied with. I unconditionally recommend the Center for their consultative services.
— Sidney Abrams, BBYO
“Melanie Herman has provided expert, insightful, timely and well resourced information to our Executive Team and Board of Directors. Our corporation recently experienced massive growth through merger and the Board has been working to better integrate their expanded set of roles and responsibilities. Melanie presented at our Annual Board of Director’s Retreat and captured the interest of our Board members. As a result of her excellent presentation the Board has engaged in focused review which is having immediate effects on governance.”
— Pamela Mattel, Basics Promesa Systems Inc
“The Nonprofit Risk Management Center has been an outstanding partner for us. They are attentive to our needs, and work hard to successfully meet our requests for information. Being an Affiliate member gave us access to so many time- and money-saving resources that it easily paid for itself! Nonprofit Risk Management Center is truly a valued partner of The Community Foundation of Elkhart County and we are continuously able to optimize staff time with the support given by their team.”
— Jodi Spataro, Community Foundation of Elkhart County
“The board and staff of the Prince George’s Child Resource Center are extremely pleased with the results of the risk assessment conducted by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. A thorough scan revealed that while we are a well run organization, we had risks that we never imagined. We are grateful to know that we have now minimized our organizational risks and we recommend the Center to other nonprofits.”
— Marti Worshtil, Prince George’s Child Resource Center
Great American Insurance Group’s Specialty Human Services is committed to protecting those who improve your communities. The NRMC team has committed to delivering dynamic risk management solutions tailored to nonprofit organizations. These organizations have many and varied risk issues, hence the need for specialized coverage and expert knowledge for their protection. We’ve had Melanie speak on several occasions to employees and our agents. She is always on point and delivers such great value. Thank you for the terrific partnership and allowing our nonprofits to focus on their mission!