Welcome to
Kindness USA

Dr. Chuck Wall inspired students and staff with his lecture on random acts of kindness in an effort to help them remember a man who epitomized compassion-Jimmy “Kabookie” Gerkin.

 

“I became so tired of hearing the phrase ‘random act of senseless violence,’ so I replaced the word ‘violence’  with ‘kindness,’” Wall said.

 

Wall took his idea one step further and gave his college class the assignment to write about a random act of kindness they pledge to commit. From there, the idea of kindness was revitalized throughout his community in Bakersfield, California.

 

“One of my students told a local newspaper about the assignment I gave them and we made it on the front page,” Wall said. “There was a renewed hope for kindness.”

 

Wall soon discovered that his enthusiasm for kindness was shared by the global community as well.

 

“After the local paper did a story on the kindness assignment, another reporter from the Associated Press approached me about it,” Wall said. “That week I received 10,000 calls from people who had been touched by my story.”

 

Since that story was published, Wall has captivated audiences including CNN, Oprah Winfrey, and President Nixon.

 

But Wall was not always this respected by others.

 

High school was especially difficult for him due to a disease which results in gradual loss of eyesight.

 

“Since my eyesight caused me to do so poorly on standardized tests, my counselor told my parents that I was mentally retarded,” Wall said.

 

After receiving the correct diagnosis, Wall set out to disprove everyone who doubted his potential.

 

“After I went to Bakersfield College, I went on to San Francisco State and received my PhD from UCLA,” Wall said.

 

During Monday’s assembly he focused on the description of kindness and the importance of individual initiative when it comes to keeping kindness alive.

 

“I think the common theme in all of my lectures is that everyone has the personal power to influence someone else’s life, either to make them happier or tear them down,” Wall said.

 

Mayor Cindy Bartman decided to follow in Dr. Wall’s footsteps and declared the week of Feb. 23-27 ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ week for the community.

 

While Wall was impressed with students’ interest in spreading the idea of kindness, he urged them not to forget it when Kabookie Week comes to an end.

 

“Don’t feel that Friday marks the end of kindness. Incorporate it into everyday,” Wall said.