Be Kind People Project Celebrates Opening of Community Education Center

The Be Kind People Project® (BKPP) celebrated the grand opening of its new BE KIND Community Education Center, located at 731 Grand Ave. in the Roosevelt district of Downtown Phoenix. The new space — which was built with a grant from the Super Bowl LVII Host Committee — will allow community members to participate in community engagement programs, creative arts and more. It will also serve as the headquarters for the national nonprofit.

“This space will be a place for enrichment, music, diversity, education, acceptance, building lifelong values and strong relationship skills, connections …. and dance,” said founder and CEO Marcia Meyer. “We have already put in so much work to the center in order to ensure it reaches its full potential and allows us to expand and amplify our offerings to youth, to families, and to the community.”

The BE KIND CREW kicked off the opening with a brand-new dance performance on their new dance floor. Phoenix City Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari and Maricopa County board of supervisors chairman Jack Sellers spoke about what the center will bring to the neighborhood and the importance of the work being delivered by Be Kind People Project programs. The event wrapped with tours of the center, which includes a video studio, professional dance floor, offices and event space.

“This center will provide a huge lift to our mission to deliver relevant learning and youth development opportunities that inspire humanity, academic achievement, healthy living and initiate a positive change in the learning environment for students wherever and however they learn,” said Be Kind People Project VP of education practices Melissa Britt.

^{Lora Golke was named the new chief development officer}

On the heels of the opening, The Be Kind People Project announced Lora Golke’s appointment as chief development officer. Golke brings a wealth of experience to the organization, having spent over 17 years with the Arizona Community Foundation, culminating in her role as senior director of development and donor engagement. Golke will lead special event, partnership and fundraising efforts, including reporting outcomes and impact.

“After 17 incredible years with ACF, I am ecstatic to move forward with an organization as innovative as The Be Kind People Project. The need for an organization like this is immense, and I look forward to the opportunity to grow their reach as we work together to build an intentionally kind generation,” Golke said.

For more behind this Frontdoor, visit thebekindpeopleproject.org.