Meet the newest edition to our team, Sadie Lockhart! Sadie is a social activist, educator, and creative artist who joins us with an extensive background in community organizing and engagement. Recently, we sat down with Sadie to learn more about her passion for working with young people, her love of the arts, and what she’s most looking forward to as Community Engagement Coordinator at Adventures in Kindness. Read our conversation below. 

1. We’re thrilled to have you here, Sadie. Tell us about your experience as a community organizer prior to joining the Adventures in Kindness team. 

I am thrilled to be here! Golly. Where to begin.  I have a lot of experience in nonprofit theater, education, and community engagement. I have organized summer camps and classes, worked with teachers to create content and curriculum that is meaningful, directed student shows, trained teachers, wrote plays for young people, and developed creative ways to produce content. I’ve met incredible humans through my work and partnered with them to foster authentic communities. I want people to always feel like they belong and that their voice matters.  And my job, essentially, is to continue to do that through many different layers of community at Adventures in Kindness. 

2. Who, or what, inspires your creativity and passion for working with young people? 

My whole family. Absolutely. I always felt so supported and encouraged to dream big and use my creative voice as a young person. Among many things, from a young age, my mom infused compassion and the importance of being involved in the community and volunteering. My dad gave me many artistic tools and "out of the box” ways of thinking to let my creativity soar. My Omie gave me a love for storytelling and using my imagination. I carry these lessons with me in life, and I’ve discovered such a passion for supporting other young people in their journeys of finding their creative and influential voices. 

3. You have such a rich background in the arts, and specifically in the theater. What’s one life lesson you gained from the stage, and how might kind kids— and their communities— apply this advice in their own lives? 

“There are no small parts, only small actors.” In theater, we talk about how every role is important in a show— every lead actor, background actor, stagehand, technician...even the audience.  The success of the show is intertwined with the work and care that every person involved in the team is bringing.  I think about that a lot, in theater and in life: the idea that I can choose to show up in a big way and play a small role in making this world a better place. Kind kids live this motto daily. The impact of a small act of kindness can have so many rippling effects of positive change. Believe in the power you have to create a positive impact in the world, at all ages!  

4. What excites you the most about the Adventures in Kindness community? 

The most exciting thing to me about Adventures in Kindness is its mission. This community of young people activating to create a kinder world is powerful, and it’s something I definitely want to be a part of.  The thing I am looking forward to the most is getting to know all of you and getting to connect with your schools, organizations, and clubs.  I can’t wait learn more about our community.    

5. From Adventures in Kindness assemblies to Kids Club, there are so many exciting ways for parents, teachers, and youth leaders to make kindness a daily practice in their communities. How can someone reach out to you with questions about getting started? 

So true! Of course, make sure that you’ve signed up for our newsletter and Kids Club (Insider’s Secret: there is even more exciting programming and content coming your way this year). Please email me at sadie@mission.partners. I would love to connect about ideas, questions, and anything you might be envisioning for your community! I cannot wait to meet you! 

Lightning Round:  

Favorite kids/YA book:  Once Upon a Pony Time at Chincoteague by Barbara Lockhart and Lynne Lockhart (my Omie –grandmother- and aunt co-wrote it with my aunt’s illustrations.)  

Favorite AIK adventure: Adventure #5 in the second edition: Host A Community Dog Wash. It just sounds like the most fun! I love animals, and the thought of that many magical dogs together in one place on a warm summer day sounds splendid!  

Favorite show you’ve performed in: A Midsummer Night’s Dream where I played Hermia - “Though she be but little, she is fierce!”  

Favorite show you’ve managed/directed: I co-directed and managed a rendition of “The Little Mermaid” with Missoula Children’s Theatre.  It was so fun to do the show over again each week with a different group in a whole new town and state!  

Favorite cause(s): An organization that is near and dear to my heart is SHH Kids , a grassroots organization whose mission is to alleviate violence and extreme poverty in Honduras through education and youth empowerment.  I also love #ENOUGH, an organization that calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theater that will spark critical conversations and inspire meaningful action in communities across the country. 

Haven’t gotten the second edition yet? Check it out here, Adventures in Kindness book!