Wed 27 May 2020
Kindness Stories from the Community
Posted by Walter.Brynjolfson
At Mediate BC, our staff team is buoyed by the conflict resolution community’s energy and willingness to be kind and support each other. We’ve decided to amplify the mood by joining the Annual Melee of Kindness (AMOK) run by Random Acts (a non-profit whose mission is to inspire acts of kindness around the world both big and small).
As you may have seen on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, our staff all have committed to carry out and share one act of kindness each day from May 23 to May 31.
This blog post is a log of our kindness exploits and those of conflict resolution community members around the province. If you’re reading this before May 31, 2020, you’re not too late to join! Click this link to register through Random Acts and share what you’re doing to add a little kindness to the world.
Be sure to post with our hashtag #MBCkindness so we can include your stories here.
Instagram Live Sessions
During AMOK we’re hosting an Instagram live session every day with a Mediate BC staff member. Come get to know our team! Here’s the schedule so you can tune in:
May 23, 11 AM — Zoe Stryd — Acknowledge Someone Important to You
May 24, 2 PM — Heverton Oliveira — Recommend a Local Businesses
May 25, 2 PM — Joan Braun — Help Someone New
May 26, 4 PM — Walter Brynjolfson — Call a Senior
May 27, 1 PM — Amanda Semenoff — Peer Support Day!
May 28, 9:30 AM — Sharon Sutherland — Support a Local Artist
May 29, 2 PM — Alyssia Yu — Self Care Day
May 30, 3 PM — Ann Lee — Make and Share #GratitudeBots
May 31, 3 PM — Melanie Carfantan McLachlan — Support a Charity
And check out our May 22nd interview with Random Acts Regional Representative Darsey Meredith for a full description of AMOK!
Day 1 - May 23: Acknowledge Someone Important
Express gratitude to a teacher, mentor, close friend or perhaps a front-line worker, essential service provider, or even a kind stranger. Like Zoe (seen below), you can write them a letter, or you can send them an email, share a story about them, or otherwise let people know about how important they are.
Sharon Sutherland wrote a blog post.
Today, as part of the Annual Melee of Kindness (#AMOKRA20) I decided to call my first boss Alain, and thank him for his impactful role in my life... also for passing on his exquisite taste in French music. Thanks @RandomActsOrg for organizing this fun event and @mediatebcsoc.
— Walter Brynjolfson (@Waltbryn) May 23, 2020
Going in a slightly different direction than I'd intended on #AMOKRA20 acknowledgements... Learning conflict resolution skills from @ToddSnider. #MBCKindness https://t.co/PN69JJmxQS
— Sharon Sutherland (@ssuth) May 24, 2020
Day 2 - May 24: Recommend a Local Business
Share recommendations for local businesses providing important services during the state of emergency. Walter took the above shot, recommending The Fish Counter on Main Street in Vancouver. Give your favourites a shout out!
I am a day late for @mediatebcsoc suggestion that we recognize a small business that we appreciate. My random act of kindness is to shout out Fox & Wit Boutique (@foxandwitinyourcloset on Insta) for being size inclusive & working hard to keep us comfy & stylish while we WFH.
— Ms Daum (@joolzdaum) May 25, 2020
#AMOKRD20 day 2: a big shout out to New Woon Lee Inn restaurant, our go to local source of delicious Chinese food in North Vancouver (via Skip the Dishes). Thank you! #MBCKindness #YouthVoices
— Kari Boyle (@Kariboyle) May 25, 2020
Day 3 - May 25: Help Someone New
Offer your time to someone new to your field. If you’re a Roster mediator, reach out to an Associate Roster mediator to offer ideas, tips, or just some time to answer questions. Joan Braun joined us for a livestream on Instagram to share advice about mediating when older adults are participants.
Its reach out day for #MBCkindness and #AMOKRA20. In my family of introverts "surprise" phone calls aren't very welcome, so I'm texting and emailing to check in on my family and friends who live alone. @RandomActsAMOK
— MindfulResolution (@mindfulconres) May 26, 2020
Delighted to meet a dozen Associate mediators at last night's Q&A! Inspired by #AMOKRA20 & #MBCKindness themes for the week, I spent time sharing ideas on building a mediation practice.
Expect to see some new projects from @mediatebcsoc & @CoReClinic around common qs!
— Sharon Sutherland (@ssuth) May 26, 2020
Day 4 - May 26: Call a Senior
The theme for #AMOKRA20 Day 4 is to call a senior. I called and visited with my amazing 91-year old Mom who lives on her own and works out every day. She is my strength and inspiration. I love you Mom ❤. #MBCKindness #YouthVoices pic.twitter.com/EWATLrXOuW
— Kari Boyle (@Kariboyle) May 27, 2020
Day 5 - May 27: Peer Support Day
You may know someone in your family or in your neighbourhood who is isolated and feeling vulnerable. Reach out to them by phone or offer to lend a helping hand with errands. Or register with BC211 to be matched to a senior in need of help.
Right now, my peers are my work colleagues, so for our #MBCKindness Peer Support Day I teemed up with Zoe Stryd to send @lejade604 a coffee with @UberEats. Hopefully the caffeine boost will help alleviate your headache, Ann! #AMOKRA20 pic.twitter.com/PitcU9Z1k4
— Walter Brynjolfson (@Waltbryn) May 27, 2020
Ever since those halycon @mediatebcsoc BC court mediation program community-of-practice days, I've been a fan of peer support groups. As its #AMOKRA20 and Wednesday, my h/t to @caringbc and their latest support group, BC-wide, and virtual. Every Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/WWYaKbjPj6
— Ben Ziegler (@BenZiegler) May 27, 2020
Day 6 - May 28: Support an Artist
Watch an online concert and make a donation to a musician, check out an online theatre offering, visit the Social Distancing Festival, commission or buy work by a favourite artist. We’ll post our ideas that day – share your own!
Today @mediatebcsoc staff members are focusing on ways to #SupportArtists for #AMOKRA20! I have way too many ideas, and will keep adding to my list here throughout the day.
Please share your ideas for #artistsupport & shout outs to your favourite artists! #MBCKindness
— Sharon Sutherland (@ssuth) May 28, 2020