About

We're on a mission to change the world with just two letters.  Hi. 

This one small word word has the power to transform how we feel about each other and ourselves, one person and one community at a time. 

​

The Hi Impact Project started as a Girl Scout Gold Award Project.  When our founder moved from New York City to New Jersey in third grade, the school and community were not as warm and welcoming as she expected. She sensed social and competitive pressures and anxiety among her classmates that made it difficult for kids to be open and friendly. Over the years, she shared this observation with peers who nearly universally agreed that there was something "off."  Rather than greet each other in school, on sports fields, in class and in town, kids often looked away, looked down, or crossed the street. Crazy! The Gold Award Project provided the perfect opportunity to call attention to the issue and come up with an idea to change the interactions among kids in the community. The Hi Impact Project was born! Rather than avoiding each other, kids in the community would be encouraged and challenged to engage with a simple "hi." 

Everyone. Everywhere. Every time.  

​

Why "hi"? This little word makes a big impact.  A simple greeting is the most basic act of kindness, community and inclusion.  It allows us to acknowledge one other and demonstrate that each member of the community is seen and valued.  Saying "hi" empowers each of us in a social situation. It gives us confidence and a sense of wellbeing when we say it and when we hear it. It can brighten someone's day and ease loneliness. "Hi" is the beginning of everything.

​

How does the Hi Impact Project work? At its heart, the Hi Impact Project is a simple, easy-to-implement social skills curriculum. It's also a form of group cognitive behavioral therapy.  (Thanks AP Psych!) Many school districts implement social skills curriculum to support social emotional learning and development.  However, kids don't know how to apply abstract ideas outside of the classroom.  The Hi Impact Project provides a tool everyone can use: say hi" whenever you see someone you recognize, anywhere you see them. This simple act can change lives and strengthen communities. And what's this about "group CBT"? The Hi Impact Project provides a way to disrupt negative thinking about social interactions - say goodbye to self-consciousness, embarrassment and awkwardness! In a Hi Impact Community, saying "hi" to everyone, everywhere and every time is the new normal.  "Hi" also provides a behavior to reinforce that change in thinking.  And there is no charge for this session!

​

Why now? During the global pandemic, many people, including kids and teens, suffered the mental health effects of prolonged social isolation. Even before COVID, social media and devices designed to connect us often leave us feeling disconnected and anxious.  Kids and teens face  unique social pressures and challenges and often without a sense of control.  We can't stop reading and hearing about the mental health crisis among kids and teens in the United States.  Talking about the problem is not enough. It is time to take a first simple step toward encouraging openness and support among teens and kids to create connections that could ease the mental health crisis and lead to lasting change for individuals, communities and the world.

 

This Is The Start Of Something Big.