‘The Great Kindness Challenge’

Shandon Joint Unified School District’s efforts to build community and practice kindness

By JAMES BRESCIA SLO County Superintendent

SHANDON — Educational agencies across the county participated in the “The Great

Kindness Challenge” earlier this year. The week was filled with proactive and positive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities focused on improving the school climate and increasing student engagement. One of the questions asked during the week was, “What can we adults learn from our youth’s actions during the challenge?”

Over the past few years, I stressed that focusing on flexibility, patience, and kindness is a tangible example of how adults practice behaviors promoting SEL. Research teaches us that kindness benefits both the person practicing the kindness and the recipient. Harvard Business School researchers examined happiness in 136 countries and documented that altruistic people reported higher satisfaction levels. The data indicated a positive feedback loop between kindness and joy. Researchers found that “people generally feel happier when asked to remember a time when they benefited

PASO ROBLES — A public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the Annual Action Plan was heard during the Tuesday, March 7, Paso Robles City Council meeting.

The annual action plan allocates city funds to public improvements. Federal regulations require the city to use funds as the following:

At least 70 percent of all funds must be spent on activities that benefit low-income persons, and no more than 30 percent can be spent on activities that eliminate blight

No more than 15 percent of CDBG funds can be used for public service activities

No more than 20 percent of CDBG funds can be used for city/county administrative uses

Councilman Fred Strong explained the CDBG funds are federal funds that must be used in conjunction with federal regulations or guidelines.

City staff expects the anticipated award amount of $197,484 is available to be divided among the proposed activities. Staff provided the following recommendation for the allocation of the funds:

Non-public service projects: Riverside Avenue infill sidewalk and curb ramp project:

$147,546

Public services:

• PSHH — Supportive Housing: $9,000

5CHC — Homeless

Services: $6,000

ECHO — Homeless Services: $5,000

• CAPSLO — Adult Day Care: $14,049

Administration: $15,889

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