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06/27/2024 09:59 AMBack in January, Branford resident Ken Engelman launched a simple, straightforward “Please Be Kind!” lawn sign campaign in town, as an initiative of the nonprofit organization he founded, Community Volunteers United (CVU).
As previously reported, armed with spray paint and donated post-election campaign lawn signs, Engelman developed a grassroots campaign designed remind us all of the value of civility and respect for one another.
Since that time, Engelman’s goal has been to get some strategically-placed signs set up in every town in the state. Nearly seven months later, he’s made - and continues to make - great gains.
Currently, “...there are over 250 signs in 33 towns across Connecticut, with many more requests coming in each week,” said Engelman.
News of this innovative campaign has been told in media ranging from local to statewide TV, radio, and newspapers. With help from friend Maggie Ryan and her family, the campaign’s message has also appeared on digital billboards on I-95 and I-91 in the New Haven area.
All of the attention has helped many more “Please Be Kind!” signs make a showing well beyond the boundaries of the shoreline. Towns with signs on display now include those stretching from Stamford to Storrs and from Enfield to Stonington, Engelman said.
The welcome response ramped up Engelman’s efforts to produce signs with the assistance of some local volunteers. It also necessitated a call for assistance through the CVU Facebook page.
“I couldn’t keep up with the requests for more signs, so I asked for sign and metal stake donations, and some kind supporters sent me the supplies needed to continue. Friends and members of our Facebook group helped create the signs and then drive around the state displaying them,” Engelman said. “This has truly been a Community Volunteer United initiative!”
The all-volunteer organization welcomes donations of any kind, volunteers, and new friends who’d like to spread the message with a sign in front of their homes or businesses.
“We also welcome anyone who would like to add ‘Please Be Kind!’ to their email signatures, work-related advertising campaigns, and youth sports sponsorships, to continue to spread the message,“ said Engelman.
Engelman, himself, has experienced the impact the Please Be Kind! message can make.
“Many people have seen me planting the signs and have beeped their horns and given me a thumbs up. Some have thanked me for doing this, and others have stopped to say how important this simple message is to them,” he said. “I learned that so many people are going through terrible, heart-breaking issues, and that these signs have given many hope that they are not alone in seeking kindness and civility; that there are others out there like them. I truly believe there are many more people who believe in kindness, community, and supporting their neighbors, than those who don’t.”
Early in the campaign, Engelman also met with three local leaders to present his idea and received their enthusiastic support, including Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey, and North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda.
At the recent Guilford High School (GHS) commencement, Guilford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Freeman discussed the importance of kindness in his address to the Class of 2024, mentioning the “Please Be Kind!” campaign and Engelman among inspirational guideposts. Engelman said the encouragement Freeman gave actually helped to spread the campaign into a new part of the nation.
“I learned of the speech from a person who contacted me from Texas. They attended a family member’s GHS graduation, heard about this campaign from the Superintendent, and then saw the signs as they drove to the airport. They searched me online and then called me from Texas to ask if they can implement the same campaign an hour north of Dallas, so of course I said, ‘Yes!’,“ said Engelman, who will send stencils and sign-making instructions their way.
Engelman continues to think outside of the box when it comes to taking this simple concept to the next level. He’s reached out to request meetings with elected officials for support of a state-wide “Please Be Kind” public service announcement campaign; and requested meetings with the state Department of Transportation to discuss placing the message on highway digital road work alert billboards. He’s also made presentations to area Walmart, Big Y, and Stop & Shop corporate teams with the concept of messaging “Please Be Kind!” inside their clear plastic cashier lane dividers.
He’s not stopping there. Engelman has also requested a meeting with the National Football League (NFL) regarding partnering with CVU to implement a “Capture Kindness” campaign. The idea? “...to inspire all their fans to begin looking for kind people and random acts of kindness,” said Engelman.
“Kind people are doing kind things all the time, but most are conditioned to not see it or applaud it, so I feel this Capture Kindness Campaign will engage communities all across America and inspire positive response in a way only the NFL team owners and players can do.”
He said he hopes to take the campaign to officials of national baseball, basketball, ice hockey and soccer leagues to learn of their interest, as well.
“There really are no negatives to this campaign,” said Engelman. “I hope to bring this across the state, across our surrounding states, and across North America; while I implement some other community engaging and community inspiring programs to improve the health and well being of communities from coast to coast.”
Community Volunteers United (communityvolunteersunited.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Branford.