By: Whitney Hopler, Communications Manager, Center for the Advancement of Well-Being
The City of Fairfax, Virginia, has officially proclaimed November 8-15, 2025, as “Kindness Week Worldwide,” aligning with World Kindness Day on November 13 and celebrating a growing global movement dedicated to compassion, community connection, and well-being. The effort was inspired by Mason Chooses Kindness –a campus-wide initiative led by our Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University – and Kindness Worldwide.
The proclamation describes kindness as “an expression of love that brings out the best in others and in ourselves, with overwhelmingly positive implications for health, well-being, and peace” and calls on the community to embrace acts of goodwill as part of a global kindness revolution. It also underscores that “acts of kindness, no matter how small, provide greater happiness and optimism, reduce feelings of helplessness and depression, and increase self-worth, while inspiring others to ‘pay it forward’ in meaningful ways.”
Mayor Catherine S. Read, a George Mason alumna, expressed enthusiasm for how kindness can create caring communities, both at George Mason and in the City of Fairfax. “This idea of kindness is core to caring communities,” she said. “Kindness is something we learn at a very early age when we start to develop empathy. Once we realize that how we interact with others has an impact on how they feel, we make choices. I believe kindness for many caring people is akin to a spiritual practice. I also believe that kindness is a renewable resource that never runs out. A sign that hangs in both my home and my office states it best: ‘Give away love and kindness like you’re made of the stuff.’ It’s a simple concept, but not everything simple is easy. I think we must choose kindness to create the community we all want to live in together.”
Representatives from George Mason University’s Mason Chooses Kindness Executive Committee were present at the City Council meeting, including Philip Wilkerson (Employer Engagement Consultant at University Career Services), Ashley Korman (Assistant Director of Well-Being Programs at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being), and Christine Landoll (Director of Business Engagement at the Costello School of Business).
“Kindness goes beyond butterflies and rainbows and hugs. Kindness is genuine care for your fellow human beings. At George Mason University, we are committed to kindness,” said Wilkerson, who is also a George Mason alumnus. He added: “Kindness truly changes lives. George Mason University is a very special place for me as an alumnus. It gave me a jumpstart to my career through the counseling program, which emphasizes the importance of treating others with kindness. My work in Career Services also reflects that same commitment, as kindness guides how we treat one another at work. Most recently, in my experience as a Ph.D. student, I’ve seen firsthand how faculty members and students extend kindness to each other. Kindness is deeply ingrained in Mason’s culture, and it’s what makes this university such a special place where I love working, studying, and serving the community.”
Korman also shared what kindness means in practice: “To me, kindness means looking beyond yourself and your own needs. It’s about putting others first, being genuine, intentional, and compassionate. Kindness is expressed through care, in both big gestures and small moments, and it’s rooted in empathy and thoughtfulness.” She offered some ideas for putting kindness into action. “I encourage our university and the City of Fairfax to practice kindness by showing intentional care and compassion to their neighbors, both physically and figuratively. That might mean helping someone carry groceries, offering someone your seat on the bus, or simply taking a moment to listen and be present with someone. Kindness can present itself in so many ways, but often in our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook the small opportunities to intentionally extend compassion.”
The proclamation encourages the Fairfax community to embrace the theme “See the Good. Be the Good. Go the Extra Mile” and to participate actively in the celebration through intentional acts of kindness.
“Kindness is about empathy and actively listening to one another – being attentive in a respectful manner,” Council Member Anthony Amos said. “Local government exemplifies this is many ways by directly communicating with residents and being on the front lines. I enjoy grabbing drinks with residents, answering questions while grocery shopping, and joining neighbors and local leaders in volunteerism. This is where we shine brightest.”
George Mason invites students and everyone in the local community to join its World Kindness Day Celebration on Thursday, November 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the Wilkins Plaza clock tower on the Fairfax campus, where participants will share uplifting words with others.
This collaboration to spread kindness reflects a shared belief that kindness is a powerful force for well-being — one that is, as Mayor Read noted, a “renewable resource we will never run out of.”