Values-in-Action Foundation Announces its Inaugural Kindland Summit at Cleveland State University

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Values-in-Action Foundation will hold its inaugural Kindland Summit on September 22, 2023 from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm in the Student Center at Cleveland State University.

The purpose of the Summit, which is free and open to the public, is to convene community leaders in compelling panel discussions prompted by kindness videos to examine the roles that schools, businesses, faith-based organizations, media, communities, and government have in fostering kindness to create a community of kindness.

“The Kindland Summit is the first time a group of organizations in the US has devoted a day-long event to examine the roles that components of every community should accept to make kindness a core value in our country,” said Mike Gibbons, board chair of Values-in-Action and a national co-chair of Kindland. “We aspire to create a model for communities throughout the nation as to how to build a Kind Land.”

The Summit is co-sponsored by Cleveland State University, along with Cleveland City Council, Sisters of Charity Foundation, Ode Family Foundation, United Church of Christ and Values-in-Action Foundation.

Cleveland State University President Dr. Laura Bloomberg said, "Cleveland State University is proud to host this year's summit and support the Kindland initiative's goal of establishing a cultural tenet of kindness in communities. By making kindness a core value, we can help shape future generations to support one another, listen to each other and advocate for everyone's well-being."

Among the panelists of community leaders are Ohio Attorney General Davis Yost, Admiral Michael Parks, Dr. Akram Boutros, Dan Simon, MD, School Superintendents Edward Weber and Elizabeth Riley, Mayors Annette Blackwell and Joseph Sakacs, Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., Rabbi Matt Eisenberg, Bishop Eugene Ward, Leon Bibb, and David Knight, among others.

“The Summit is a launch point for deeper engagement across venues. Given the serious issues confronting our communities, all these institutions affect one another — we can no longer operate separately and expect universal and systemic change,” said Stuart Muszynski, President and CEO of the Values-in-Action Foundation.

“We all see negative behaviors happening every day in our community and country. This is an opportunity for all of us to address and begin solving these issues and problems in a unique, and evidence-based, way,” added Muszynski.

Attendees must register to attend at www.BeKindland.com.

The Summit will also be live streamed at www.bekindland.com.

The Summit begins with a continental breakfast and a light lunch will also be served. A networking event will follow the completion of the Summit.

About Kindland and The Values in Action Foundation

Values-in-Action is a 29-year-old, Northeast Ohio-based nonprofit that has trained 1.7 million students to lead with kindness, caring and respect. Kindland was initiated by Values-in-Action Foundation in 2019 as its effort to embed kindness as a core value in all communities. Kindland’s approach is holistic — merging schools and community, business and government in a combined effort to spread positivity.

Kindland programming is already in 700 schools in the state, including CMSD and Akron Public Schools. Currently, there are over 150 nonprofit organizations that are Kindland partners and more than 400 community leaders who have signed on as Leaders or Co-Chairs.