What happens when young students are given not just responsibility, but the belief that they can lead?
At a Los Angeles Unified elementary school, that’s exactly what fourth-grade teacher Heidi Ballard is helping bring to life! With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, a group of student leaders is stepping up to create real change in their school community.
These students aren’t just learning about kindness and responsibility, but they’re putting it into action. From launching a buddy bench to encourage connection on the playground, to organizing a hygiene drive and decorating restrooms with uplifting messages, they’re rolling out a slew of student-driven projects. They’re identifying everyday needs and crafting thoughtful solutions.
As Heidi shared in her application:
“Many of my students are working toward identification as gifted in leadership, and they need access to meaningful opportunities that allow them to apply their talents in real-world settings.”
And that’s what this project is all about. It’s more than school beautification. It’s confidence-building, empathy-growing, and problem-solving in real time. It’s helping students from underserved communities not only dream about being leaders, but actually become them.
This grant supports our Amplifying Voices of Youth pillar, and our team was especially inspired by the ripple effect: when one student sees their classmate step up, it empowers them to do the same.
We’ll be following along as these young leaders bring their plans to life, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.
➡️ Have an idea that supports young changemakers or brings kindness to your community? Apply for a $1,000 Kindness Grant at tdbff.org/kindness-grants
Photo Courtesy of Heidi Ballard