Start With Hello

  • Every Kid in Our Communities has launched a “Start with Hello” campaign. It starts with 3 simple steps.
    • See a young person
    • Reach out
    • Say “Hello”.
  • Together we can create a more connected, inclusive community!

Origin of the “Start with Hello” Campaign

The “Start with Hello” Campaign was developed by the Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a national, non-profit organization in Connecticut. The SHP is led by family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 that claimed the lives of 20 first graders and 6 educators. SHP is focused on preventing gun violence (and other forms of violence and victimization) by addressing social isolation. The intent of their peer-to-peer “Start with Hello” campaign is to empower young people to create a culture of inclusion and connectedness within their school or youth organization. For more information, visit www.sandyhookpromise.org .

“Start with Hello” in Leeds & Grenville

The EveryKid Coalition has adapted the “Start with Hello” campaign to suit the communities of Leeds, Grenville. Local school surveys highlight that lower numbers of students feel that their community values them and that they have caring adult relationships outside of their families. Youth also told us that they want to be greeted, have conversations with adults, and be involved in their community.  (Youth Let’s Talk Survey, 2018).

To align with this data, EveryKid has modified the original campaign from Sandy Hook Promise by focusing the messages and tools for all adults and “influencers of youth” in our communities, which encourage them to “Start with Hello” and then…… build positive relationships with children and youth. According to the Search Institute, young people need to be surrounded by three or more nonparent adults, who love, care for, appreciate, and accept them. As well, young people need to perceive that adults in the community value them. By collectively “Starting with Hello”, EveryKid hopes to create communities where children and youth feel like they belong, are connected, feel valued, and have positive, caring relationships with adults; thus, contributing to the development of healthy, thriving, resilient children and youth.

Getting Ready to “Start with Hello”

Whether you are able to dedicate a little, or a lot of time, “Start with Hello” can be tailored to any group.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Introduce the “Start with Hello” campaign to your group: The “Start with Hello” working group has developed a short PowerPoint presentation that can be used to deliver the information. 
  • Identify a “Start with Hello” champion within your group: Choose someone who has a passion or interest in this initiative, and who can influence others. This champion can be a liaison to the “Start with Hello” working group.
  • Review the activities within the “Start with Hello” Toolkit : A number of sample activities, along with a description of them, have been suggested to get you started. Roll out the activities as outlined in the proposed schedule within this toolkit, or pick and choose the activities that work best for your group. You’re also welcome to create your own ideas and share them.
  • Promote & recognize: If you decide to participate in “Start with Hello”, don’t forget to highlight it in the media, or on social media. Throughout the toolkit you will find some promotional ideas. Recognizing your fellow colleagues or peers for “Starting with Hello” is a great way to spread the word and showcase “Start with Hello” in action. You may just inspire others!

Suggested Schedule of “Start with Hello” Activities:

Supporting Resources:

Please consider sharing a digital copy of any resources you create as you “Start with Hello!”  Send to Tawnya.boileau@healthunit.org for inclusion with our Supporting Resources