On Monday, five short days from now, the Ring Our Country with Kindness (R.O.C.K.) ride begins. This 1 year, 9,000 mile bicycle ride around the perimeter of the United States will raise awareness about School Bullying and Adolescent Suicide.
The initial 2 weeks will take me quickly down the east coast to Florida. I will be traveling to nearly one University  every day along my journey. Rutgers, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, University of Delaware, Loyola, Georgetown, University of Richmond, North Carolina State University, Methodist University, College of Charleston, SCAD and then into and along the eastern coast of Florida, visiting various colleges and universities.
I will spend nearly three months in Florida visiting educational institutions from kindergarten through college presenting age appropriate programs addressing bullying and suicide.

I pulled onto the College Walk at Columbia University at the invite of Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Terry Martinez. This center of campus walkway is used by nearly everyone on campus.
Naomi Cole, a student who works at the Spectator, spotted my bus a few weeks ago in Brooklyn and got the ball rolling for our visit here today.
I was met on campus by Nino Rekhviashvili, a reporter for the Columbia Spectator. She conducted a great interview (link below) while I interacted with students and faculty. This beautiful campus in New York City has some of the brightest students from around the globe.

http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2012/10/17/national-tour-kindness-bus-spreads-vibes-college-walk

Talking with individuals and groups of people while out and about on The Kindness Bicycle and at The Kindness Bus, I try to convey the most meaningful thoughts and ideas that align with the needs of the conversation or questions asked.
Today, I looked in the direction of where The Kindness Bicycle was located, as I talked with a group at The Kindness Bus. A young woman was reading one of my handout sheets and from her body language, it seemed as if she was having a difficult time. I excused myself from the group I was talking with and walked the few hundred feet to her. This young woman, with tears streaming down her face looked up to me as I introduced myself. “I wish my friend would have seen this,” as she motioned to the sign on The Kindness Bicycle which reads, “Someone needs you. Don’t end your life.”
We talked for nearly two hours about the importance of so many things in all of our lives. But most importantly about hanging on to your life with all your might during the toughest time.
Be a hero to yourself, I told her. Be strong! Someone will need you in a very big way at some point…you need to be here for them. Realize how incredible life will become, I added.
All of us, during difficult times, need something to hold onto, whether it be volunteering, helping others, religion, friends, family. Whatever it is…find out what you truly care about and fully immerse yourself in your passion. Show this world as much love as you can. Get involved in helping others. If you are using drugs, stop! If you are considering using drugs, don’t!
You are needed and you are loved!!
As we finished up our conversation, something that made me realize the importance of this mission, was when she said, “I needed to see this sign too.” She walked away with a renewed sense of hope to her life.

One of the organizations I contacted last week was the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) which is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.

To fully achieve its mission, AFSP engages in the following Five Core Strategies:

• Fund scientific research
• Offer educational programs for professionals
• Educate the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention
• Promote policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention
• Provide programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involve them in the work of the Foundation             I arrived at the Lower Manhattan offices of the AFSP and after talking with Senior Director of Education, Ann Hass, I headed to the offices of Senior Director of Field Management and Development, Michael Lammas. Michael has a passion for helping children and after hearing me talk of my mission he said he was impressed with the passion for what I am trying to accomplish. During our talk, Executive Director, Bob Gebbia joined us and added some of the details of this very important organization’s mission. It is an honor to say the least, for an Executive Director to meet with me. The Kindness Bicycle, which I took up 29 floors and into their offices was a sight to behold for the entire staff. Thank you for a great visit AFSP.

Two weekends ago, I was invited by L.A.N.D. curator, Matthew Murphy, and Communications Specialist, Kyle Bowen, to take part in the DUMBO Arts Festival by parking at their studio/gallery and interacting with their clients and artists. What an honor it was to be involved with such a first-rate organization.
All fourteen of the talented artists of L.A.N.D. Studio and Gallery in the heart of Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood just finished participating in a group show at the Museum of Modern Art. The L.A.N.D. (League Artists Natural Design) Studio and Gallery is one of the creative programs founded by the League Education and Treatment Center, an agency that has been working with mentally disabled individuals in Brooklyn for over fifty years.
L.A.N.D., the first program of its kind in Brooklyn, is a studio/gallery created to give adults a chance to develop their talents in a warm and supportive environment. It provides a showcase for their art, while giving them the opportunity to express their creativity and to garner the artistic recognition they deserve.
The imposing “Tinfoil Gorilla” behind Bogart is the creation of talented artist, Dean Millien.
Some of this article was taken from the L.A.N.D. Gallery website.

With The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes coming to an end, I now have a mere 11 days to do the final planning for the 9,000 mile Ring Our Country with Kindness ride (R.O.C.K.)
There are a number of national organizations that address Suicide and others that address Bullying, I decided to contact these groups by email and phone. In one day’s time of emailing and phoning, nearly anyone associated with one of these types of organizations, now knows of the Ring Our Country with Kindness ride and of One Million Acts of Kindness.
One of the organizations that responded to my email was the US Department of Education. It is an honor to hear back from them about the Bullying portion of my ride with a “shared commitment to preventing and addressing bullying.”
It just keeps getting better the longer I live out this 10 year-long commitment.