Kindness isn’t passive. It’s powerful. And in Portsmouth, Virginia, a group of girls is proving it.
We’re thrilled to name Sisters in Service (SIS) as our newest Kindness Grant recipient. Founded by Marissa Adams, SIS is rooted in the belief that young women thrive when they are seen, supported, and trusted to lead. Through their Girls Leading Forward program, they’ve already created safe spaces where peer mentoring builds resilience and confidence. Now, with help from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, they are taking that work even further!
The new initiative, called the Youth Voice & Civic Kindness Collaborative, gives girls a real seat at the table. This student-led committee brings together young women, teachers, school staff, and local leaders to co-create school environments where kindness, mental health, and community healing are front and center. With support from the grant, SIS will cover the costs of transportation, materials, and resources to make these roundtables and kindness campaigns possible, including an Advocacy Day at the Virginia State Capitol where girls will share their vision for more compassionate schools.
What inspired this idea is deeply personal for Marissa. Growing up in foster care and navigating trauma without the support she needed, she knew firsthand what it meant to feel unseen. What changed her trajectory was connection: the moments when someone chose compassion over judgment. Today, she is building that very safety net for others, ensuring that girls facing adversity are met with empathy, mentorship, and opportunity.
Our Kindness Jury was especially moved by this vision. As one judge put it, “Too often girls are under-served and under-listened-to. This program not only amplifies their voices but helps community and elected leaders understand the impact kindness can have in critical policy decisions.” We couldn’t agree more.
This project beautifully reflects three of our core pillars:
- Amplifying Voices of Youth by giving girls a platform to lead and advocate.
- Pathways to Mental Health Resiliency by fostering emotional well-being through safe, supportive spaces.
- Building Thriving Communities by connecting youth voice with adult allies in schools and civic life.
More than anything, it reminds us that kindness is not just something you practice in small ways… It is a way of leading. And when young women are given the trust and tools to lead with kindness, the ripple effects reach far beyond the classroom!
We are proud to support Sisters in Service as they continue to grow their impact across Hampton Roads, Richmond, and the Peninsula. We cannot wait to see what these young changemakers build next.
➡️ Learn more about Sisters in Service at sistersinserviceinc.org
Photo Courtesy of Sisters In Service