"It's Girl World, and it's harsh, cruel and lonely." These candid words come from the documentary Finding Kind, which was shown at Walla Walla (Wash.) Valley Academy (WWVA) on Feb. 23.
Finding Kind, which is part of the nationwide Kind Campaign to raise awareness of and combat girl-against-girl bullying, tells the story of the campaign's founders, Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson, as they traveled the country to interview, lead discussions with, and host assemblies for girls and women of all ages. Their trip even included a stop in Walla Walla. The documentary touches on issues like jealousy, competition, gossip, suicide, self-esteem and relationships.
Among the screening's 450 attendees were fifth- through 12th-grade students, teachers and parents representing nine nearby schools, including Adventist, Catholic, nondenominational and public schools.
Tiana Wood, the Upper Columbia Conference task-force worker who coordinated the event, admits she didn't see the value until she saw the film. "Girl-against-girl bullying seemed like such a big problem that I thought, 'Why even try to fight it?'" she explains.
A second showing was held at Upper Columbia Academy in Spangle, Wash., on March 29, and a third will be scheduled at Cascade Christian Academy in Wenatchee, Wash.
Walla Walla Valley Academy students assemble for the Finding Kind screening held Feb. 23. (Cassy Collins)
