Who we are (brief)

The Kindness Project, originally started in 2019, aims to embed more kindness into academic and world culture, policies, and structures. Culture change requires multiple interventions, relationships, and supportive networks, which the Kindness Project continually fosters. Promoting explicit discussions about kindness is an essential strategy.

The Kindness Project working group is an interdisciplinary team (e.g., medicine, education, biology, sustainability, etc.) and network of faculty, staff, and students (undergraduate and graduate) and others initially dedicated to making the world kinder, especially with respect to (i) conflict resolution, (ii) environmental sustainability, such as plant-based programming (food and botany/nature walks), (iii) mental health, and (iv) equity, diversity, and inclusion. While originally at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the Kindness Project is now global in scope with collaborators in kindness from other institutions (University of Victoria, University of Notre Dame, etc.) and off campus collaborators. The Kindness Project is also working in collaboration with UBC’s Conflict Theatre to creatively and kindly explore conflict, as conflict is common in academia and life in general.