Consumers from Community Ties South help pen book teaching kindness

Kindness is universal.

An easy message and one that resonates with everyone.

And the consumers of Community Ties South are no different.

Staff members at the SCCMHA location in New Lothrop brainstormed an idea to have our consumers who attend CTS help author “Just Be Kind,” a book that highlights the different definitions of what it means to be kind and how you can show the same sentiment to others.

The book was put together by Activity Aides Julie Burdick and Deborah Nelson and features consumers from CTS.

Julie reached out to Studentreasures, a company that works with schools to help build communities in classrooms through publishing books. They sent a kit and a template, and after recruiting Deborah, CTS helped to create “Just Be Kind,” which was published in November of 2023.

Every page in the book contained a list of prompts for consumers to answer, defining what kindness is and their personal examples. Coupled with that is an illustration done by each consumer of what their specific definition looks like.

“We kept reminding them ‘this is your story,’” Deborah said. “And they felt a sense of importance, being able to explain how kindness makes them feel.”

Many of the consumers were overjoyed over the idea of being a published author, being excited to see their name and work in the book, as well as sharing with their family and friends.

“One of our consumers occasionally will ask us to read the book to them,” Deborah said. “They always are so happy when we get to the page they worked on.”

Deborah remembered working with a non-verbal consumer who showed what an example of kindness meant. Upon Deborah asking them, the consumer got up and demonstrated someone opening the door for someone else.

“Even with someone who’s not very verbal, for them to hear and understand and walk me through what they were trying to say meant the world for us to share in this book,” Deborah said.

Since the book has been published, kindness radiates through CTS between staff and consumers alike. Something Julie and Deborah were proud of in manifesting with the newly published authors and telling their stories.

“It’s amazing being able to tell them ‘you are somebody, you matter, we can do this together,’” Deborah said.

“Kindness is a universal language.”