Art of Humankindness Project Connecting Students, Families and Communities

In a Title I school with a student body so diverse that more than 30 languages are represented, it’s not always easy to connect with parents. But earlier this year, Arts Night at Deep Springs Elementary, made possible with a grant from CommonSpirit Health's Mission and Ministry Fund, drew parents who wanted to see their children’s artwork and enjoy multicultural music.

“It’s so cute to watch kids come into the school building and want to show off all their hard work,” said Deep Springs art teacher Emily Blankenship. “But then it’s even more interesting when parents are looking at it and they’re able to relate to that content and that culture… I think having that small connection to their cultures and showing that representation means the world to them—and that is how we spread our kindness, by showing them that we see them, that they matter to us, too.”

The grant that enabled Blankenship to purchase extra art supplies is called the Art of Humankindness, part of Saint Joseph’s Creating Safer Neighborhoods Initiative. Seven schools in Fayette County received the funding.

“We targeted the art teachers specifically at these seven schools so that this could be a part of the art curriculum, to be included in their lesson plans every day,” and also their social-emotional learning and behavior frameworks, explained Demetria Blair, program manager for the Creating Safer Neighborhoods Initiative in Fayette County.

At Deep Springs, the project included a second art show during the school’s Literacy Night, where student artwork was tied to a story they read, and a prominent school mural that kicked off the school year—all made possible with the grant.

“I am only given $150 for my school for the entire year and I have 500 students, so you can do the math: it is pennies per child. I can barely buy a class set of markers with what the school provides me,” Blankenship said.

The funding from Saint Joseph, she added, represents communities supporting communities. “I’m not reaching out to some giant corporation from a million miles away--It’s the hospital here in my own hometown, taking care of people that I love.”

Blankenship said she tried to weave the humankindness theme into the school’s existing monthly themes. She built a foundation first by teaching kids that they are each unique and beautiful, and that differences among people are a good thing. “That’s kind of how I approached this grant, because I feel that in order to be kind to everyone you need to grow in understanding that everybody is unique and it’s OK to like different things,” she said.

The project holds special meaning for Blankenship. She was working on the grant application during spring break last year when her husband became seriously ill and was hospitalized at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington. “It was kind of a crazy coincidence as I’m sitting in the hospital room where he’s recovering and I’m also filling out this grant to the same hospital that’s helping to heal my husband.”

Later, while he was still healing, she learned she had gotten the grant. “So for me it was a very touching and personal experience,” she said.