Clarion University joins campaign to spread hope

From staff reports

“Dear Young Person: We stand with you.”

That’s the message that Maxient, a company in Charlottesville, Va., wants to spread to its city’s young people after they witnessed hatred and violence at riots Aug. 12.

Clarion University wants to help.

“While we adults can turn to the news, social media or gather for vigils to help us process these events, our young people cannot,” said Maxient co-owner Aaron Hark, who, as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters, knows first-hand the challenges children in Charlottesville had already been facing prior to the riot. “We cannot let the scenes they witnessed in our community become their image of the broader world.”

Maxient, an industry leader in student conduct databases, launched the #DearYoungPerson campaign to deliver postcard messages of self-worth and hope into children’s hands. The agency is turning to colleges and universities to engage their communities.

“The intention is to fill the cards with messages and drawings of love, hope, self-worth and positivity that will help unify us all,” said Matt Shaffer, director of judicial affairs at Clarion University. “Judicial affairs was fortunate enough to receive 300 post cards for the #DearYoungPerson campaign from Maxient.”

Tables for signing cards will be set up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 25 and 26 in Gemmell (first floor, by the ATMs in the rotunda) and Sept. 27 and 28 in Eagle Commons (main entrance/breezeway).