Skyview High School senior Tyson Cantrell is an ambassador of kindness.
Since last summer, Cantrell, 18, has served on a steering committee to plan the first Community Kindness Day slated for Sept. 29 at the Ford Idaho Center.
He has helped to mobilize students at Nampa, Caldwell and Middleton high schools to participate in a school-based Kindness Week and planned teen activities for Community Kindness Day. The teen tailgate at Saturday’s event includes cornhole games, bubbleball, Dutch Bros beverages and music provided by Impact Radio.
“It is easy to focus on the negative, but I know that everyone can use random acts of kindness,” said Cantrell, who is student body president at Skyview.
The son of Jason and Becky Cantrell, Tyson is the captain of the soccer team. He also is involved in a mentoring program at Skyview. For Kindness Week, the senior mentors have written positive, upbeat notes to the freshmen.
“The feedback has been phenomenal,” he said. “We need to let them know that it is OK to be vulnerable because we are here for them, to support and guide them.”
Kelly Gibbons, a Vallivue High School parent serving on the planning committee, is impressed with Cantrell and the student leaders.
“My interactions with Tyson and the other Canyon County leadership students was incredibly encouraging and respectful,” she said. “These youngsters are truly on the pulse of important social issues and are not afraid to take a stand. Our future is in some capable, caring and kind hands.”
Cantrell hopes that the kindness movement will continue throughout the year. “How can we carry this past the one week and talk about it again?” he said. “These simple acts of kindness can change the world.”