We think it’s great that a movement called Actively Caring for People (AC4P) is now making its way to Denton and hope it will serve as a catalyst for additional goodwill efforts.
The movement evolved in the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech University in 2007. After a gunman shot and killed 32 students and wounded 17 others on the Blacksburg, Virginia, campus, psychology professor E. Scott Geller and his students observed an outpouring of support for those who were left behind.
Geller and his students already had been working to promote the concept of “actively caring” around campus, and after the shooting, they vowed to create an international movement, Geller said Thursday at the University of North Texas.
“I started this project 20 years ago, and we had our tragedy April 16, 2007, and my students said, ‘Doc, we have to take this worldwide. Everyone shows much love, concern and caring after the tragedy,’” he said. “They’re saying, ‘Why couldn’t we do this before? Why can’t it be proactive instead of reactive?’”
The local effort is being launched with the help of UNT’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service, Texas Woman’s University, North Central Texas College and the Denton school district.
Organizers tell us that the concept is simple — be nice to others and recognize when those around you deserve thanks or praise.
The efforts are quantified and chronicled with green wristbands. When someone with a wristband witnesses an act of kindness, they are supposed to go recognize the person and pass along the wristband. Then, the person who gave the wristband is supposed to share the act of kindness with the community at www.ac4p.org and on Twitter with the tag #DentonHumanityRestored.
“You can’t get more basic than what AC4P is teaching, which is it’s not a big deal to do something nice,” said Thomas Evenson, dean of the UNT College of Public Affairs and Community Service. “What we need to do is remember, and with the bracelets it connects.”
Evenson makes a good point. Most of us know the right thing to do, but we sometimes fail to follow through on our good intentions.
Geller’s students had it right — why can’t we be proactive instead of reactive? Too often, it seems, people wait until tragedy strikes to reach out to others.
It’s good to help people in need, but think of how much better the world would be if we all tried to be more supportive and understanding all the time.
Maybe programs such as Actively Caring for People will help change the status quo by reminding us that we need to practice the Golden Rule.
A little kindness never hurts.
