The Art of Kindness

At age 24, some millennials might ring in their birthday at an exquisite restaurant or hotel, partying at a club or snapping selfies on their way to that road trip they have been planning for months. But, when the clock strikes 12 on Thursday, February 9 Jerahmeel James will be celebrating his 24th birthday finalizing plans for ‘The Art of Kindness’.

The Art of Kindness being organized by James is a charity event that will take the form of a performing arts benefit concert aimed at raising funds to assist the Escarpment Road Basic School in Kingston. His inspiration comes from Eleanor Terrelonge, who for her 22nd birthday asked her friends to do ‘22 random acts of kindness.’ This, he said, resonated with him so in December 2016 he decided to follow in her footsteps and give back for his birthday this time around.

“I’m doing an act of kindness and I wanted to do it through the arts,” hence the name The Art of Kindness," James said. He expressed his love for the performing arts and stated that this initiative represents something dear to him- giving back through the arts.

James, a former Deputy and Hall Chairman for the Aston Preston Hall, now holds the post of Vice President of Properties and Special Initiative for the UWI, Mona Guild of Students. He is also a postgraduate student reading for his MSc in Economics. James said that this initiative is a personal one which he is using to celebrate with his friends, those close to him and those who share the passion and willingness to help others.

“The specific cause is to build a Resource Room for the Escarpment Road Basic School,” James said. The school also needs a general facelift, he added.

IN PHOTO: (LEFT) Aston Preston Hall's 2015/2016 External Affairs Chairman, Latifah Morrison assists Jerahmeel James to plant a tree during Morrison's 'Army of Good Legacy Project' on February 11, 2016.

The event which will be held on Friday, February 10, 2017 at the Old Dramatic Theatre on the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus and will feature performances in three different areas- elocution, dance and chorale. Members of the University Chorale, Glenmuir High School Flagrans, Tiffany Thompson from the University Pop Society, Taylor Hall Chorale, PEACE Dance Society, UWI Dance Society, Kingston Drummers and the UWI Panoridim Steel Orchestra have all joined forces with James in making this initiative a success.

Leading up to the event, James is encouraging individuals to do their own special act of kindness and share it on any social media platform using the hashtag #TheArtofKindness and tag @jerahmeeljames on Twitter or @jerahmeel.james on Instagram. Tickets for the event cost $1000 and the event begins at 7p.m.

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