The Visible Project

I have been receiving many thank you notes over the years. With them comes a “direct line” to seeing the person who had written me. Those connections have lasted for years. It would be one specific note of gratitude that would begin The Visible Project.

After learning of Keegan Donovan’s death by suicide, I was asked to visit Hammond Central School. At the same time, I was going to visit Morristown Central School where a student lost his life after a bicycle/car accident. I had never faced two tragedies, at the same time like this.

After my visits I would receive over 60 notes through emails, text messages and Instagram. This one note, from Gabriel Niles, that I received on April 26, 2017, would change my life.

Hello Sir, This is Gabriel Niles. I met you today when you were at Hammond Central School. I really enjoyed listening to you and the stories you told. It really does make a difference how we treat each other.

In our community, we recently lost one of our best friends Keegan Donavan. Listening to you made me wish you had come to our school sooner or more often to share your stories, maybe preventing what did happen to our good friend.

I appreciate what you are doing. Thank you, Coach Johns

Gabriel Niles
Hammond, NY

Now, without question, I wanted to be able to ‘see’ every student and wanted each of them to ‘see’ me. Every one wants to be seen, wants to be heard, wants to be cared for. Each of us can take on the responsibility to connect to each other, to make the world better. Not only our youth, but adults need each other to be able to combat everything they face in life.

The Visible Project can be the most powerful way to change your world.

The Visible Project is designed to encourage written notes of gratitude and appreciation to those who have impacted your life. A friend, relative, a teacher or anyone that has shown kindness to you. These connections can and should be expanded. This allows you to be visible to the person you are writing to and they become visible, as well, to you. If you ever need someone to reach out to, your ‘visible circle’ is there for you. Connecting to those who you know will not judge you and that you can go to any time, will provide you with the help you may need, during good and bad times in your life.

Addressing mental health is a key component to AWRA and The Visible Project. It stresses the importance of always being kind. The kinder you are the more visible you become. “When you give kindness, it comes back to refresh your own daily mental health.”

The Visible Project is the major support system for any school community.

“While there are resources for students to help with daily stresses, subtle actions to make another person feel seen sometimes eases tensions, promotes a sense of community, and lets others know that they have more support systems that they initially thought.”