“Cleveland, The City of Kindness” campaign reached out to thousands today. The main walking route to the entrance to the Cleveland Air Show was where I chose to interact with as many people as possible. While walking by, people took the time to sign or answer the survey verbally. This unscientific survey is so one-sidedly favorable, it shows how much, the residents of this area, want a positive national image of Cleveland. I talked with so many people this Labor Day Weekend that my voice started to leave. Many families with children talked with me about their goals for the future, all of them included kindness.
The Kindness Bus Tour was afforded a couple of great parking spots near the Air Show. Thanks to the Coast Guard, the Cleveland Police and Caitelyn and Oz at a local hotel, for allowing me to park in areas of high visibility.
The “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” campaign survey numbers are currently; 4,623 for and 32 against.

Hoping to spread some kindness to this near-west side area of Cleveland was the reason for my visit to this church festival. At last year’s festival, news reached me of a teenager who was beaten and stomped by 20 other teenagers just for the thrill of doing so.
I called Father Mike, the Pastor of this church, and after hearing of my mission, he told me to please bring The Kindness Bus and he would find room for it somewhere on site. When I arrived, he approved parking The Kindness Bus at the front and center of the festival. The reaction to my being at the festival was met with thank yous from nearly everyone I spoke with. Kindness will prevail.
I then headed downtown, to a few of the Saturday night hot spots and then to Little Italy. The response was overwhelming to the “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” campaign, as not one single person, all day long, disagreed with it. I also have begun to ask people being surveyed if they know what the current motto of Cleveland is, no one has guessed correctly.

After a late night arrival in Northeast Ohio last night, this morning I took the time to reflect on all of the wonderful events we fit into 2 days time, all 7 of them. Wonderful events and wonderful people; Dr. John Stratton, Sara Garska, Sue Guiher-Huff, Brian Wells and Nate Bebout, are but a few.
Heading to downtown Cleveland, I “lucked” into the #1 parking spot between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Cleveland Air Show. The Kindness Bus and “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” was very well received. People from Cleveland and others visiting Cleveland, were quick to lend their support. Peter and Marianna, doctors from Boston were very interested, they even remembered seeing the bus in New York City earlier this summer. Two young men from Sweden, traveling across the US, thought the proposed motto fit Cleveland to a tee. A couple from Hungary, with two children, “love the friendly people here”.
The Air Show and the Rock Hall’s 15th birthday brought many people to Cleveland; some of the local “Rockers” gave a thumbs-up of approval of  the proposed motto; “Cleveland, The City of Kindness”. The current survey stands at 2,341 for ; 24 against.

At Ashland University Bogart is BMOC. He made big points on our visit last September and he’s doing it again this year. This pet-friendly campus doted all over Bogart once again. PAW; Peers for Animal Welfare volunteer, Courtney Long heard we were returning to campus and went out of her way to find us. Piper another student found her way to Bogart as well. She also, proudly displays one of our stickers on her car from our previous visit.
Today I worked at The Center for Non-violence, talking with the community about kindness in education, business and community. We brainstormed ideas to spread kindness in our lives and growing One Million Acts Of Kindness.

The Well, an AU ministry, was led by Nate Bebout, a Seminary Intern. Nate had me interact with his message to show how kindness is for everyone.
Ashland University was a huge success for One Million Acts Of Kindness. I hope to be back in the near future.

Being able to speak at this University is an honor I have been looking forward to for the past 6 months.  Dr. John Stratton, who heads the Department for Non-Violence, and I have been planning this day since then.  In response to a terrific level of interest, Dr. Stratton added a second day to my visit.  This was really a dream coming true for me, and maybe, just maybe, my Kindness mission is having an impact and is truly making a difference.  It’s my hope days like this will happen more frequently as The Kindness Bus Tour carries on.                  Student extraordinaire, Sara Garska, who handled most of the logistics for my visit, helped me work the crowd for three hours at the student union. Many students remembered our visit from last year’s Kindness tour. Kurt, one of those students, was once again very complimentary about my mission.  We were then whisked away to help teach an English class at the University and then work with a middle school class at the Ray Kroc center near the Ashland campus.
The main event for me was my 70 minute talk in the evening to a very appreciative audience, followed by a discussion group. Thank you Ashland University.