Are You Dreaming Like Delaney? Because We All Should!

By Kara Jackman

Delaney Cunha is not the average 10-year-old girl. Nope she is above average. Why? Because she took the advice "spread kindness like confetti" to heart. This is her lifelong mission with Drean Like Delaney, a fashion and lifestyle brand (and possibly a book too) that will sweep the nation once she gets a little bit older. Delaney believes everyone should be kind, brave, confident, but most importantly dream big, just like her. In fact, she believes so deeply in this that she has a 15-page business plan to back it up. 

Look out world! Here she comes!

For kids like Delaney with craniofacial conditions school can be a drag. (Not to mention, it gets in the way of executing on your business plan!) Kids are brutally honest and nitpick your every move. Meanwhile there is a lot to learn at school, too. Math, science, writing, reading and history are tough subjects. Add on some additional work in other areas, plus an upcoming very large surgery, and most of us would be overwhelmed. There was little time to execute that business plan or write the forthcoming book from this #WonderKid, but Delaney knew she had to do something to honor this special, scary moment in her life. She had to be brave. 

In spite of some tough questions and comments from her classmates around her extra services, Delaney decided to explain what her craniofacial life is like, and share her message of kindness with them, too. Even after classroom talks with her Mom, CCA Board Member, Kelly Cunha Pokorny, distributions of #ChooseKind gear, the kids continued with remarks. Now in the weeks ahead of her mid-face advancement surgery and three-month recovery with the RED device, Delaney took this as opportunity to really make an impact. She grabbed some fabric markers and large sheets of paper in her favorite colors, and brought them into her classroom, and to nearby schools, businesses and a few hospitals for people to sign in support of her mission and upcoming surgery. The Dream Like Delaney banner tour was on. Banners will visit the following locations, spanning the East Coast, as the Florida-based family travels to Boston Children's Hospital for the big mid-face advancement surgery: Deer Park Elementary, Bayside Sports Academy, St Petersburg Country Club, Moffitt Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Delta Airlines, and Boston Children's Hospital. 

In support of Delaney, her teachers and resource specialists at Delaney's school encouraged the kids to ask her about her upcoming surgery, write phrases of encouragement and support on the banner. During the summer, kids are encouraged to wear a bracelet in support of Delaney's surgery and 3 month recovery.

Delaney says of her classmates, "I had no idea they supported me until we told them about my surgery, and why I asked them to sign my banner." 

Wristbands will be distributed at all these locations to all Delaney's supporters, too. Hopefully these bracelets will raise awareness about craniofacial conditions and encourage others to ask "how can I dream like Delaney?" 

Further Delaney shares, "I teared up when I realized they really did support me and loved my awareness bracelets."

How can you go wrong with a color combination that are her favorites -- pink, purple, and red swirls? You can find those colors on her hearing aids, and the suitcase she will rock on her trip up the coast. 

The hope is to gather 200 signatures before the surgery on June 7th. Even if you do not sign the banner, you can join the movement by wearing rainbow colors or pink, purple, and red on June 7th to stand with Delaney. Kelly says, Delaney will most definitely be "brave like all of her cranio besties who have or will overcome the midface." Our support is a big piece to her quick recovery. You can follow "Dream Like Delaney" on Instagram and Facebook. 

Delaney has grown to love her face, with the support of her immediate family and extended CCA family. Kelly says of her daughter, "She loves skin care, makeup, hair styling and coloring, and vlogging. She enjoys watching beauty influencers like Kylie Jenner. Delaney loves to draw, act, dance, write, and sing, too." 

No one can get this girl down. "No doubt with Delaney's perseverance and strength, one day, we will see Dream Like Delaney become a reality!" shares Kelly. 

And we do not doubt it. Not one bit.  

Never Stop Dreaming.

#dreamlikedelaney

Kid Speaker From The UK Shares His #ChooseKind Message With Skokie Students

Nicholas is a fine example of someone dedicating his life to make the world a kinder place. And when we say world, we mean it. Nicholas, born with congenital melanocytic nevus, lives in the United Kingdom and recently spoke to students at MCC Academy all the way in Skokie, Illinois after they read R.J. Palacio's novel "Wonder," about Auggie Pullman, a student who faces going to middle school after years of homeschooling.

Nik shared his life story about being born with a facial difference and how he embraces

kindness towards others. He encourages the students in his audience to do the same. As a member of CCA's speaker's bureau, he suggested ways to combat bullying and how he envisions a more inclusive world. A true renaissance man, Nik wanted to share his artwork with the class, but time did not permit. The artwork is a huge part of his message and advocacy raising. Images of his artwork are sprinkled throughout this blog post.

MCC Academy fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Rahman commented, "Nik was a wonderful and inspirational speaker. It was a pleasure to have him in class today. He did a wonderful job in sharing his personal story that tied with the novel "Wonder" we read in class. Nik beautifully shared a message with the class that they need to embrace everyone's differences and be kind."

Melanie Andrews, Nik's mother shared that the class of MCC Academy fifth graders were equally as kind and respectful, ""Nik had said that he felt so happy to answer such educated questions and they were asked so respectfully. Wow what a school. A role model school for us all."

Thanks to past opportunities to share his story and works of art, Nik won the Diana Award, given by the Princess Diana Award charity for acts of anti-bullying, and inclusion for all people in the United Kingdom. Nik advocates for people born with facial differences like himself. Nik was born with a a large congenital melanocytic nevus. His card initiative started with him taking his artworks and placing them on postcards for distribution to "to the public to advocate for kindness and equality. Nicholas considers Princess Diana his role model and lives by her quote ‘do what your heart tells you.’ His heart has encouraged him to spread the message, ‘even if you look different you should be proud of who you are,' says the Diana Award website.

Some of Nik's Artwork
Inspired by characters
from R.J.Palacio's "Wonder"

Thank you MCC Academy in Skokie, IL for choosing kind. Many thanks to Nik for continuing to spread this important message. Clearly a fun and informative time was had by all on this Friday in the first week of June as Nik bridged the gap across the pond!

Learn more about CCA's speaker's bureau program, or request a speaker for your school through our #ChooseKind Initiative on our website at.

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Staff Donate $400 To CCA Kids

Schools may not be in session over the summer, but the work for all school systems continues behind the scenes. Mary Ann Jackman, mother of CCA staffer, Kara Jackman, is one of the people that makes schools kind, welcoming spaces for diverse students in cities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. After 11 years of service as a regional director for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Statewide System of Support [SSoS], she brought her service to a close on June 30th. In her honor and in lieu of a gift, her colleagues donated $400 to CCA after hearing about the good work that we do for kids across the country. On top of that $400, Mary Ann and her soul mate and husband, Patrick Jackman, contributed an additional $200 towards their daughter’s birthday club fundraiser. This $600 will bring about a positive impact for our families, providing life-changing medical care for kids in need, building family network connections, and educational materials for students of all ages.

Mary Ann Jackman is a tireless advocate for children in urban, diverse municipalities from Chelsea, Framingham, Randolph, Taunton, and Lowell.  She began her educational career at schools in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Roxbury.   She taught at various grade levels, plus put her certifications in math and computer technology to good use in the Boston Public Schools. Mary Ann was the first to bring computers into Boston classrooms. Later, she would move into administrative positions, working as an assistant principal, principal (of two schools no less), and ultimately superintendent in a small town closer to the family home, so she could better care for her family.  She retired as superintendent in 2006, but her passion for education remained intact. Mary Ann knew there was more work to do. It was then, after two years working at an Apple retail store, that she returned to work in education with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. There she teamed with colleagues and partnered with schools/districts to work together to better understand and support the needs of the diverse and changing student populations, toward the goal of improving outcomes for all.  Surrounded by dedicated colleagues and school/district leaders, school improvement plans were developed, implemented, and progress monitored; student opportunities and achievement grew and improved. 

Her colleagues wanted to share their appreciation for her years of leadership and hard work. Mary Ann is a tough woman for whom to purchase gifts, so when she caught wind of something going on, she talked with her long time colleague Casel Walker and SSoS assistant director, Rebecca Hyde, about CCA and the work that CCA did in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and her daughter, Kara’s, passion for creating opportunities and making a difference for those with facial differences.  

Mary Ann leaves a positive impression on all people with whom she works. She exemplifies all the principles in our #ChooseKind initiative, especially for black, indigenous, and students of color. Many of the team members were touched by her work ethic and eagerly took the opportunity to donate in her honor. Thanks to Mary Ann’s leadership, all of them live out Margaret Mead’s message. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

CCA is grateful that this group of thoughtful, committed citizens has helped to improve the lives of families in the facial difference world, too. Thank you to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Statewide System of Support Coastal Region. We salute you, your work, and the countless opportunities you gave to a young girl from Dorchester that just wanted to help children reach their aspirational educational goals. 

Three cheers for you, Mary Ann! What a life well lived!

#ChooseKind Schools: Massachusetts School Reading Teacher Visits CCA Offices

Mrs. Lima of the Morse Pond School in Falmouth
Massachusetts came to visit the CCA offices in December 2019
before coronavirus hit. 

Before the coronavirus struck the United States, friends and teachers visited the Dallas, CCA offices. One of them came as 2019 came to a close. 

Thank you Mrs. Lima for stopping by our CCA office in Dallas, TX in December 2019 before our world turned upside down with the coronavirus. Great timing. Mrs. Lima is a Reading Teacher at Morse Pond School in Falmouth, Massachusetts on good, old Cape Cod. She teaches mostly 5th and 6th grade students. 

Over winter break, Mrs. Lima was in town visiting family and friends. She dropped by to send along some pen pal letters that her students wrote to our CCA Kids. She had been in contact with Khadija, our outreach director, about the pen pal program, our #ChooseKind Initiative, and curriculum for her students. During Mrs. Lima's visit, Khadija was kind enough to give her a tour of the office suite and provide her with more resources for her kids.

Thank you Mrs. Lima and Morse Pond School staff for teaching your students the importance of kindness through our #ChooseKind programs. 

If you are a teacher looking for curriculum or ways for your kids to connect with CCA kids with facial differences, please visit our Choose Kind Initiative webpage or email Khadija at [email protected]. There are resources for parents, kids and more on our website. 

Alabama School Chooses Kind Raising $200 For CCA

                               

The sister of Anna Rogers Milican and her students at Cherokee County Career and Technology Center raised around $200 selling paper brains and skulls for CCA! The students in these classes were moved after hearing a speaker's bureau member share their story during a school assembly in February 2020. 

Above are some images of all the paper brains and skulls that students purchased, wrote their names on, and displayed in the hallway of the school to honor CCA kids. As you can see many students participated in this fund-raising and awareness-engaging event. 

We are so grateful for your ability to come together. The $200 will help a child get life-saving surgery they need, stay connected in the CCA family, and help other schools like yours teach kids empathy building, and bullying prevention skills they will use for the rest of their lives. 

Keep choosing kind, Cherokee County!

#ChooseKindTuesday: Abby & Melissa Visit the East Catholic

Melissa and Abby McGowan visited East Catholic School in Pittsburgh, PA to share their ChooseKind message with 120 students ranging in ages from nine to thirteen. Abby shared what it is like to live with a facial difference. Mom, Melissa, shared what a delight it is to have a child like Abby for a daughter. Melissa and Abby talked about Abby’s birth, surgeries, medical appointments, which set her apart from many kids., but they also talked about  aspects of her life that make her just like every other kid her age. She loves school, reading, and playing games with her three sisters. She cooks and crafts with her mom.

An East Catholic School teacher and organizer of the event, said of the McGowan’s presentation, “Having Abby take part in the talk was a wonderful part of it. The students and faculty thoroughly enjoyed every single part!  The presentation was very enlightening and informative! We were blessed to have been able to have Melissa and Abby come and speak to us. The children were so touched by them, they want to have a dress down day to donate the money to CCA!”

Thank you East Catholic for hosting Abby and Melissa. We are so grateful that we can count you as one of our #ChooseKind schools. Keep up the great work. Be kind, choose kind, the world needs more of it. 

#ChooseKindTuesday: Dankelsons Visit SoCal Schools For CCA

Peter, CCA Kid, and Dede Dankelson, CCA Mom and member of the board of directors, recently finished up a week-long trip in Southern California schools spreading their Amplify Kindness message with hundreds of students. CCA sat down with them to talk about the genesis of the work they do, what they share with the students, how it has evolved, and why they keep going back to SoCal for CCA. 

Thanks Peter and Dede for all your great work over the years!

Del Mar

Del Mar

Who initiated first contact with these schools? 

It really got started by Bill Mecklenburg and the Coto de Caza community. They hold multiple fundraisers each year, and CCA was selected first for the "Coto Classic Golf Tournament" and then the "Coto for the Cure" tennis tournament for the last two years.  With their financial investment through these fundraisers and the leadership of Chris Jones, teacher and English department chair at Ladera Ranch Middle School, the partnership was solidified with the schools.  Chris is now retired, but we've continued working with other teachers in the district for the past two years.  The money raised from those fundraisers funded classroom sets of books for all 6th grade literature classes in Capistrano Unified School District.  CCA also sends Wonder curriculum materials. From this community, it allowed us to refine our programming and see it build successfully over several years. 

How many years ago was that? 

We've been speaking at CUSD for 5 consecutive years. 

Del Mar

The two schools we've been to for five years is Ladera Ranch and Don Juan Avila.  We've been to nearly all 14 of the middle schools at least once.

What keeps you connected to these communities and this part of the United States, beyond its beautiful weather?  

We love visiting all of our CCA friends in southern California!  And, Peter loves going on "guitar safari" in Los Angeles.

Aliso Viejo

Do the students remember Peter?  

Well, it is a different group of students every year. We speak with the 6th graders every year, so it's a special assembly just for that grade. I am sure they remember him as they graduate into the next grades and I hope they remember and take the message with them.

Aliso Viejo

What are their impressions of him?  

They love meeting Peter and hearing about his prosthetic ear and hearing aid.  We also show them a trach and a feeding tube and explain they're just a different way to eat and breathe.

Art made by Shore Cliffs students
for Pete and Dede's visit

How has your presentation changed over the years?  

Our original presentation focused mostly on comparing Peter's craniofacial syndrome to Auggie's (bringing fiction to life) and promoting "Choose Kind" to others.  Our message is now about "Amplifying Kindness" to both others and yourself.  We strive to teach kids how to be confident, so they have the courage to be kind.  We want them to embrace their differences and have the confidence to pursue their passions.  Peter is a good example of that.

Peter and friends at Don Juan Avila
Middle School

#ChooseKindTuesday: Jenna Visits Massachusetts School

By Jenna Ottow and Kara Jackman 

Jenna Ottow visited Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, MA to share her #ChooseKind story to all 4th grade classes. She talked about the surgeries, school experiences, and the positives and negatives of growing up with a facial difference. Dexter Southfield's motto, 'Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow' was quite apparent in the audience of 40 students that listened attentively in the small auditorium  In preperation for their 'Diversity Day', the students had been were reading stories demonstrating diversity and the ability to overcome it. Students shaed how the book “Wonder" stood out the most because they could relate to Auggie and his fellow students as they were also in school. Jenna shared how being different taught her to overcome shunning, lonliness, and bullies, like Julian, the bully depicted in R.J. Palacio’s New York-Best selling book.

Photo Credit: Dexter Southfield School
Website 

The students were encouraged to ask questions about bullying, staring, and a life that involved a few extra hospital visits than most. Jenna was touched when students asked questions in order to relate to Jenna, and find commonalities between the students and her, and eachother. One wise student asked, “did you ever let the bullies get inside your head?” which is a pretty profound question for anyone to ask, never mind an elementary school student. Not expecting this, Jenna paused and admitted that although it's not necessarily easy, she did allow that to happen, and went on to say that those words from bullies as a youngster, still haunt Jenna today. Jenna explained that by taking the negative and turned it into a positive by using the hurtful words, shunning, and stares, to turn them into confidence and knowledge knowing that their bullying is more about them and less about whoever it is that they choose to bully.

#ThankfulThursday: Seneca Valley High School Student Raises $7,000 For CCA

Madisyn Bower inspired Seneca Valley High School student, Maddie Karchut, to host a spaghetti dinner to benefit CCA. This was not just any spaghetti dinner, though. No, Maddie and the surrounding north west Pennsylvania community came together to raise $7,000. 

The event featured a sumptuous meal feeding 200 people with six families in attendance affected by craniofacial conditions. 

Over 200 local businesses were contacted for donations and 80 of them came through with something to give towards one of the 45 raffle baskets that were on display around the room. Other sponsors found ways to make the day special for all who attended. Twenty five volunteers coordinated the activities for the 200 supporters, ensuring everything ran smoothly. 

After all was said and done, the leftover food and supplies were donated to Light of Life Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter, in nearby Pittsburgh. A fine way to pay forward the spirit of kindness, good karma, and great fundraising from a super successful event. 

Thank you Maddie Karchut, we are confident that you will make all your dreams come true in the bright and bold future that lies before you after high school graduation. 

Congratulations on running a successful fundraising event that will bring medical care to kids in need, provide social networking for families feeling alone, and provide opportunities for learning about empathy and kindness in classrooms around the country.  

#WonderWednesday: Jono and CCA Staff Visit J.C. Austin Elementary School

On Monday, December 9, the CCA Staff along with Jono Lancaster visited Lilianna, Abigail, and Joseph Hernandez's school, JC Austin Elementary School in Mesquite, TX. We were escorted by the Assistant Principal, Ms. Jane Freeman and Brie Hernandez, CCA Mom, who was a wonderful advocate making this visit possible! 

Our time at the truly kind and welcoming Austin Elementary was amazing. Three grades (3rd-5th) of 215 students sat rapt with attention for over 50 minutes in assembly - a huge accomplishment in itself, as Jono told his story of growing up hating the way he looked, with bold truth and quite a bit of humor, too. He encouraged them with three stories of people who made an impact on him as a young man - three people who saw him for who he was and made positive comments about his face. He challenged the students that they could be any of those three people to someone - and they may never even know it. The power lies in telling others what you find amazing, special, beautiful and unique about them. They can change someone's whole life with a kind word or a friendly listen.

Then, in the classrooms, the students proved how attentive they actually were, asking follow up questions with incredible detail, heart, and depth. Jono patiently answered them all and encouraged them to speak up and talk to trusted people (teachers, parents, and friends) when things are hard. Bringing the pain to the surface and talking about it is healing; bottling it up inside hurts both the person with the pain and the others who are trying to help them. 

After all the questions were asked, all the classrooms were visited, and all the favorites were compared (what's your favorite food... color... place to go... sport... video game...), Jono left but not before he gave out his own homework assignment!  He told the students that they needed to think of one thing that they are scared to say out loud and to write that down. After taking some time to really think about it, he encouraged them to share it with someone they trusted. The second assignment was to write down something they truly love about themselves and to put that in a special place - a bathroom mirror, a bedroom wall, or maybe their desk, and to look it at daily to remind themselves how special they are to this world!

#WonderWednesday: Jono Inspires Us To #ChooseKind In Southern California And Texas

 

Jono Lancaster visited three Southern California schools in the middle of October. He spoke to over 1200 students and staff at Brookside Elementary School, Ana Haus School, and Highland Academy. Jono was invited to his first stop, Brookside Elementary School in Beaumont, California, by Knox Cloes and his mother, Sarah. He spoke in an assembly to 300 students about his facial difference, how the students can be more accepting to those that appear different, and finally how they can choose kind each day.  From the many photos that were taken during the day, many of the students received one-on-one time with Jono after his presentation. They talked in small groups indoors and during recess. 

Later that same day Jono brought his message to Angelica Batres' school, Ana Haus School, also located in beautiful Beaumont, California. There he spoke to 720 students in pre-kindergarten to sixth grade classes. The students of this school community embraced him, too. 

On October 21st, Jono visited Highland Academy to talk to Jordan Watkins' classmates about differences, acceptance, and kindness, too. He was invited by Dorina Watkins and some of the teachers at Highland. The school's director commented about Jono's presentation, "It was engaging and fun. The openness of the presenter really made an impact on the students. It was thorough, yet brief enough to hold their attention.”

Jono made another visit to the United States from his home country of the United Kingdom this week. Yesterday and today, Jono visited schools in Dallas-Fort Worth. He also addressed visitors to the NorthPark Center Gingertown build event last night. Each year, Dallas-based contractors, construction companies, and urban planners come together to build an entire city out of gingerbread houses. The effort helps raise money for CCA Kids. We are extraordinarily grateful to Jono for being part of this event for the second year in a row, but most especially to the NorthPark Center mall for their continued support of Children's Craniofacial Association programming through the Gingertown event. It is a fine way to celebrate the season and our kids. 

#ThankfulThursday: Georgia School Raises Money In Honor of Classmate

Hopewell Middle School in Alpharetta, GA collected and will donate $733 to the Children’s Craniofacial Association. The money was raised in honor of Ian Bibler, an 8th grader at the school and CCA kid.  Further, Vicky Bibler, Ian's Mom says, "This is the third year Ian's Middle School has supported CCA during their kindness campaign during the month of September. 

We cannot thank you enough Hopewell Middle School. Your donation dollars will go to helping kids like Ian access life-saving medical care, attend our Annual Retreat and Educational Symposium in June, or distribute curriculum to students across the country to inform them about our #ChooseKind movement. Thank you for your continued generosity. It means so much to the kids of CCA. 

#WonderWednesday: Grace Shares the "Wonder" of It All in Cypress, TX

Grace Anto started the school year off with a bang by sharing her story at Rennell Elementary School in Cypress, TX on October 28th. After reading the book "Wonder" Grace spoke about her real-life experience living with a craniofacial condition. Her teachers said the presentation, "was very engaging for our students. They felt like they could really relate to her because of all of the similarities she pointed out between herself and them." 

This year marks the second year that Grace shared her story with the fifth graders at the Rennell School. Here teacher said her impact was palpable, noticing its continued lessons reverberating to conversation the day after the assembly, "Her confidence has already inspired my 5th graders to reach out to people they don't know and get to know them, or make them feel included. My 5th graders kept mentioning her ICQ strategy today (Introduce, Compliment, and Question). Some of them even said they have already tried this strategy at school or extra-curricular activities!"



Keep impressing that important message on everyone who that will listen. Thanks

#WonderWednesday: Avery Shares Her Story!

(L-R) Avery, Dominika, and Nova  Photo Credit: Liz Cox

Avery Cooper is spreading "Wonder" and kindness everywhere she goes. She raises funds like champ, helps other, and speaks to students too about R.J. Palacio's book "We Are All Wonders" and how to be kind to others. Avery's mother Stephanie shared with us her daughter's latest achievements, 

" [Avery] spoke to the 100 or so students on her fifth grade team a couple of weeks ago. She shared her story and talked about being kind. She has a PowerPoint and shows her RED, trach, and hearing aids. She often reads We Are All Wonders, but I’m not sure if she did this time." 

Thank you Avery for your all your hard work and service in the name of CCA during this month of October, National Bullying Prevention Month. 

#WonderWednesday: Angie and Marco Visit Armstrong School For Fourth Time

Angelica and Marco Garcia spoke to 120 eager students at Neil Armonstrong Academy. This was their fourth visit to the school in as many years to talk to the students about what life is like living with a facial difference. The students read the book "Wonder" and Marco and Angelica's assembly was part of one-of-a-kind learning experience where R.J. Palacio's book was brought to life through their presence and words at the school. Thank you Angie and Marco for your continued service to CCA and the students of Utah. If you are interested in having an adult or child with a facial difference   come to your school while reading "Wonder," please contact Khadija Moten, [email protected] or fill out this form. If you are an adult or child with a facial difference and want to share your story, you should go to our speaker's bureau website.  

Here is what Angie had to say about the experience at Neil Armstrong Academy: 
It was so WONDERful to see the new batch of 6th graders this week! It was our 4th time coming and it just gets better every time ☺️ We love the innocent honesty of children and wish more adults could learn from that. We had encouraged them to ask us ANY question their hearts desire. One child asked if we were going to have more children and a few classmates shushed them, but we thanked him for asking that question and I answered that hopefully through adoption "yes."  And R.J. will always be our first child and his passing didn’t stop us from the idea of giving more dear children a stable loving home and family. We also emphasized that we are not limited to adopting children with Apert syndrome. I’ve noticed that with adults too, they assume that we will just focus on adopting kids with Apert syndrome. If the time comes that we are in a place financially and legally to adopt, if there’s a child that wants us to adopt them regardless of our looks and there is equal love and a positive dynamic present, then we are so going to adopt them. #heartsforRJ #wonder #choosekind #cam2019 #teachthekids

Christine Shares Her Story at New Jersey Church

Christine Clinton and Jen Kilmer at Annual Family Retreat
and Educational Symposium 2019 in Scottsdale, AZ

Christine continues to share her story and advocate for kindness across the north east. She mostly speaks to middle schoolers, but this time she spoke in front of the congregation at her church, St. Justin the Martyr Catholic Church. Clearly, she is not afraid to branch out to spread the message of acceptance and kindness to more people.

At St. Justin the Martyr, she spoke about the power of vulnerability. She described how to be vulnerable to the packed church, by saying, "it’s standing there for an extra 90 seconds or even 90 minutes to allow someone to be vulnerable with you. In return, you’ll gain a loyal friend." It can be just that simple. She went on to talk about her difference and how connecting with other people has helped her build confidence.  

Christine speaking to a group of Girl Scouts

Christine tailors each presentation to the audience. The power of vulnerability was important for people of all ages to hear at St. Justins. But when Christine travels to schools, she speaks more about how acts of kindness can prove to be powerful. She feels speaking to middle school students is important because she could have benefited from support during that time in her life. 

"Growing up, I didn't have CCA, or the support that is available now. That is why I am so passionate about helping to promote acceptance and awareness of craniofacial/physical differences, and choosing kindness. For me, that is so very important. All I have ever wanted is to be and feel unconditionally accepted and loved."

Great job, Christine. Keep on sharing your story.