Communities all over the world are coming together to support one another during this difficult time of Covid-19.
#inthistogether is trending across social media.
People are sharing creative and safe ways to connect with others without violating stay-at-home orders.
The creator of the well-known kindness rock painting Facebook group, Northeast Ohio Rocks!, Nancy Powell Pierson, has come up with another wonderful way to bring positivity to our communities.
On March 20th she founded “Chalk Walk,” a kindness Facebook group that inspires people to decorate sidewalks with fun drawings and uplifting messages using sidewalk chalk. The members, aka Chalkers, take photographs of their masterpieces and share them to the group.
Nancy invites the over 200,000 Rock Stars, members of Northeast Ohio Rocks! to put their rock painting skills to work on their sidewalks. “Together we can make the world a brighter place.”
In less than one month, “Chalk Walk” has over 1,000 members representing 31 different states, 3 countries outside of the US, and is growing daily.
The Chalkers have expanded their works of art to driveways, porches, patios, wooden fences, brick walls, and bike trails. Amazingly, one Chalker posted they colored their entire brick house!
Nancy has included a chalk paint recipe on the site with DIY instructions, as well as how to create mosaics and stained-glass art. Chalkers share tips, encouragement, inspiration, and collaborate with each other.
Neighborhoods are participating and challenging their neighbors with various themes, such as sports and superheroes. One neighborhood chalked their walkway to the group mailboxes.
The artwork will inevitably wash away in the rain, but that doesn’t bother most Chalkers, as they’re happy to make new creations on the clean canvases.
Interactive pieces of art intended to include people within the drawings have become a huge hit for both the artists and the finders. They make fun photographs! Drawing hopscotch on the sidewalk is another enjoyable way to engage others.
The Chalkers are thoughtfully sharing appreciation to essential workers: hospital staff, police officers, first responders, truckers, delivery drivers, post office workers, trash collectors, grocery store/pharmacy employees, gas station attendants, cleaning service providers, etc. These dedicated workers deserve our gratitude, support, and recognition. We’re all in this together.
“Chalk Walk” motivates people to get outside in the fresh air and sunshine, be creative, keep busy, create smiles, and spread joy. Some members refer to it as art therapy. All ages are participating, and this activity can be safely accomplished while maintaining social distancing.
Nancy sums it up nicely, “Circumstances have changed our lives like we’ve never known before. All we can do is bloom where we are planted. Creating and sharing kindness isn’t canceled. Let’s chalk!”
Jennifer Vaughan
