LOCK HAVEN — On Saturday, Aug. 24, more than 40 community members gathered in Triangle Park with a simple but powerful message: kindness matters.

Holding signs that called for goodwill, compassion and civil engagement, the group rallied under the banner of Make America Kind Again (MAKA) — a grassroots movement founded by two grandmothers who believe America can rediscover its decency.

The MAKA movement was launched by Deborah Tonken (known as Nana Dee), of Maine, and Elaine Stevens Parke (Grami Dodi), of West Virginia. Their mission, detailed at www.makanow.org, is to inspire “all of us” to demand more respectful and civilized public dialogue.

“We know that our children are listening,” the founders explain. “When we uplift public discourse, the issues that may divide us are less likely to cause harm.”

A recent informal survey of students, they noted, found that more than 90 percent reported feeling sad and disheartened by the harsh language they hear in today’s public sphere.

Tonken and Parke bring deep personal and professional commitment to the cause.

Tonken is an internationally award-winning author and illustrator of family values books that emphasize kindness.

Parke, who founded All of Us, Inc. in 1993, created a monthly system of “12 peace attributes” designed to help individuals and communities put peace into practice. Her decades of work have earned her international recognition — she has won a Lifetime Achievement Award by the 2025 International Exceptional Woman of Peace by Pathways to Peace, a United Nations NGO affiliate.

The grandmothers also host a podcast and YouTube channel, sharing updates on the movement and featuring stories from communities across the country. Their recent video highlights their visit to Lock Haven to launch a new local MAKA chapter.

“The August rally in Triangle Park marked the beginning of MAKA’s efforts in Lock Haven. We hope this rally will remind us that civility and kindness are powerful tools that we must employ if we wish to solve problems and move forward” said Rose Reeder, local coordinator. “The message resonates well beyond Clinton County.”

Parke’s recent interview with Pathways to Peace underscores the global urgency of cultivating compassion.

“And now, they invite all of us — you and me — to join the Kindness Revolution,” Reeder said.

A MAKA rally event is planned for Saturday, Sept. 6, from 12-1 p.m., at Triangle Park in Lock Haven. It will include brief presentations by Tonken and Parke.