Portraits of Kindness was started by JBHS Librarian Julie Grene in conjunction with the Memory Project. In 2015, as a show of unity, Librarian Alicia Boote and the students of BHS joined in. Now we are happy to include John Muir Middle School students to our family through Coloring in Kindness. The Memory Project is a charitable nonprofit organization that invites teachers, or librarians, and their students to create portraits or inspirational art for youth around the world who have faced substantial challenges, such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents, violence, and extreme poverty.

These portraits or inspirational art pieces, and a monetary donation, are then delivered to these children. The art helps the children feel valued and important, to know that many people care about their well-being, and to act as meaningful pieces of personal history in the future. For our students, this is an opportunity for them to creatively practice kindness and global awareness.