Page 84 - Tennessee Teen Volunteer Judge's Book 2022

What can you do during your Tenure of Service as a Titleholder to impact your community?
I can embrace this title as the job of lifetime to serve my community and state during my year of service. As a state titleholder, I am prepared to invest more time to expand the reach of #KindnessReigns not only in my community but across the State of Tennessee. I want to live out my platform #KindnessReigns as a leader who serves with love and kindness. This platform promotes a spirit of inclusion, volunteerism and compassion which perfectly aligns with the mission of the Miss and Teen Volunteer America organization.
Preparation of a detailed 12-month marketing plan allows me to effectively plan my year in an organized manner for appearances, fundraisers, and social media posts. Currently, those plans are focused in West Tennessee but the plan could easily be adapted for events across all of Tennessee. For example, in November, plans include participation in at least one event honoring Veterans, volunteering for holiday Mobile Food Pantry distribution, and weekly posts related to thankfulness, recognition of Veterans, and of course World Kindness Day (November 13)!
What has been your involvement with your platform?
#KindnessReigns is intentionally broad so that I can apply the basic principles of love, kindness and volunteerism across the vast needs in my community and in our state. Over the past year, I have volunteered service hours and/or raised money for 28 different charities and civic events. My service to various organizations has taught me that kindness is the foundation to make a difference regardless of who or what organization. Some of my favorite acts of service include volunteering for Crockett Cares Food Pantry, collecting pajamas and diapers for the Dream Center of Jackson, raising money for Make-a-Wish, and taking cards and snacks to nursing homes and assisted living residents. Another impactful organization I am passionate about volunteering for is the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network to help promote awareness and education about mental health issues.
What inspired you to first become involved in your platform?
My passion to be a champion for kindness began when I watched my best friend be endlessly bullied due to rare skin condition. Over the past few years, my platform has evolved beyond being limited to one specific group or agency as I realized how many needs there are in my own small community, state and country.
If you are selected as the winner, how would you mobilize and market your platform nationally?
My vision is for others to join my #KindnessReigns to highlight coordinated acts of kindness across multiple cities and states. For example, such efforts could be focused on one specific area such as for children who are hospitalized, an anti-bullying campaign or could be unique to specific needs of each titleholder’s community but completed within a certain month or timeframe. Successful launch of #KindnessReigns nationally will not only bring a light of love and kindness in our state but throughout our country and motivate others to make a difference as they feel led.
How would you utilize social media in order to positively further your position as a titleholder if you are selected as the winner?
When considering what to post on social media, I always ask myself these three questions: (1) Is this post positive? (2) Is this post encouraging or will it motivate others? (3) Is this post educational? There must be at least one “yes” answer to these questions! Following these guidelines ensures that all posts will be relevant and support both my image personally and that of the overall Miss Tennessee Volunteer and Miss Volunteer America pageant systems.