By Deborah Reed
WKTV Contributor
greer@wktv.org
“We are all running in this race to kindness together,” stressed the 2025 Top 100 Global Child Prodigy Award winner to a full house at the ninth annual Wedgwood Christian Services State of the Child Conference.
Kindness is a subject SOTCC keynote speaker Orion Jean is well-acquainted with and says his generation needs from the adults around them.
“You are in this race because you will be our first role models of kindness,” said Jean on Feb. 23 at the conference at Frederik Meijer Gardens. “You will give us that head start we need for a race that we don’t even know we’re in because you know that the state of the child can be strong as long as they have you in their corner.
“Showing kids how to lead with kindness through words and action just might change the world one encounter at a time.”
Local youth in collaboration with a panel of community experts lead the SOTCC each year, addressing current challenges encountered by children and families and offering ways to support today’s youth.
“The goal today is to better understand how to support our kids and set them up for a brighter future,” said Dr. Dan Gowdy, WCS President and CEO, at the conference. “The state of the child affects us all. We have to prioritize the children in our lives.”
To understand youth and how to serve them better, the conference offered a variety of educational breakout sessions, a panel discussion moderated by Maranda of WOODTV8, exhibitor booths with resources and swag – and 15-year-old keynote speaker, Orion Jean of Texas.
While a range of topics were discussed from face-to-face connection, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on youth, substance abuse, and the need for adults to model behaviors and coping strategies for our youth, one theme made a recurring appearance.
Kindness.
Studies have shown, Jean continued, that kindness can help boost positive emotions in youth, help reduce stress and anxiety, and strengthen their social connections and sense of belonging.
In addition to winning a national kindness speech contest at the age of nine and using that money to begin his “Race to Kindness” campaign in 2020, Jean has authored two books, was selected as the 2021 TIME “Kid of the Year,” and has been featured on numerous local, national and international media outlets such as Ellen, Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkston Show, CBS Evening News and ABC World News.
Jean’s “Race to Kindness” campaign spans five years, four initiatives, and the entire nation. His first initiative, the “Race to 500 Toys,” garnered 619 donated toys for youth in the span of one month.
“We knew immediately that something miraculous happened,” Jean said. “Kindness did indeed prove capable of galvanizing the nation.”
The “Race to 100,000 Meals” and the “Race to 500,000 Books” followed, each initiative meeting and sometimes exceeding, their goals.
1 million acts of kindness
Jean’s current initiative, “Race to 1,000,000 Acts of Kindness,” has already garnered over 75,000 random acts of kindness from around the nation.
“After racing to 500 toys, 100,000 meals, 500,000 books and now 1,000,000 acts of kindness, I can say that I’ve been able to witness firsthand just how kindness truly can change the nation,” Jean explained.
With kindness, everybody wins
Thinking kind thoughts or wishing people would be kinder is not enough, Jean went on to say. Action is also needed.
“The difference between the thinkers and the doers can literally mean the difference between wanting to create a culture of sustainable generosity for kids in our schools, homes and communities and actually making it happen.”
And no act of kindness, Jean said, is too small.
“Nothing is too small when you want to help make a big difference in the lives of children. Any small but meaningful way of kindness plays a role in transforming the world into a place where inclusion thrives.”
An investment that lasts a lifetime
Jean encourages adults to prioritize the state of the child and to offer words of encouragement, guidance and vision to youth as they navigate the race of life.
“You are helping to shape our futures filled with resilience, hope and leadership,” Jean says. “Your investments in our future will last a lifetime and help us be the beacon of hope for the generation behind us.”
2027 SOTC registration is open!
Carlos Whittaker, best-selling author, expert storyteller and impactful speaker, is slated to be the 2027 SOTCC keynote speaker.
Registration and additional details about the 2027 State of the Child Conference can be found here.
