One Chalk Army

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "WE CREATE BRIGHT FUTURES." the I in BRIGHT is a light bulb shape. All the chalky colors flow throw the text in a rainbowy mess of colors.

Photo of two sidewalk chalk drawings. One drawing says, "NKC Schools Education Foundation Fall Breakfast." The second drawing says, "WE CREATE BRIGHT FUTURES." the I in BRIGHT is a light bulb shape and all the chalky colors flow throw the text in a rainbowy mess of colors.

I wanted to see the NKC Schools Education Foundation t-shirt design in all the chalky colors from the moment I saw it, and I finally have! I appreciate all the work they do for our schools and students.

Previously at the KCI Expo Center for the NKC Schools Education Foundation Fall Breakfast

There is a second drawing that is my favorite, but I'm going to leave that as a surprise for those who attend tomorrow. (I'm also hoping to get a better picture of it in daylight.)

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "NKC Schools Education Foundation Fall Breakfast"

A partial preview of drawings we made to thank our Education Foundation for the work they do. They do wonderful things for our schools, and my kids have benefited from programs they have helped fund.

At KCI Expo for the NKC Schools Education Foundation Fall Breakfast

The bright sun, harsh shadows, and darker chalk colors made it impossible to get a picture with readable text, but I didn't want the drawing to be all bright and colorful. I also didn't want it to be all darkness, so I had the dark colors move into lighter colors, and “happy” colors at the end.

"I know the world can feel dark, and life can be overwhelming. I know it can feel like there is no way through. In those times, please talk to someone. And if that isn’t enough, talk to someone else, and keep reaching out until you find the help to fight through it. PLEASE STAY"

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "I know the world can feel dark, and life can be overwhelming. I know it can feel like there is no way through. In those times, please talk to someone. And if that isn’t enough, talk to someone else, and keep reaching out until you find the help to fight through it. PLEASE STAY"

This was my plea to my kids after reading the email notifying families that our high school lost a student. It’s also my plea to anyone else who may be struggling—asking for help is not being weak, don’t let your lying brain tell you otherwise.

At Oak Park

Text is below since the picture is bad...

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "We must never stop believing that beautiful things can happen even in times of chaos."

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance. The drawing says, "We must never stop believing that beautiful things can happen even in times of chaos."

I'm trying to believe this, but some days are pretty damn dark.

At Antioch Middle School

The Dakota Rogers Project page
www.facebook.com/thedakotarog...
"Dedicated to Mental Wellness. Our Mission: to build an epic, dog friendly park, promoting kindness and mental wellness, in honor of Dakota & too many lost to violence."

And their event tomorrow night
www.facebook.com/share/p/1AAt...

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing of two kind of blobby humans in mostly gray surrounded by the words NUMBNESS, ANGER, DREAD, FATIGUE, LOSS, FEAR, FRUSTRATION, UNCERTAINTY, LONELINESS, ANXIETY, PANIC, SADNESS, PAIN, and GRIEF in grays and white. In the center between the two "people" are the words CONNECTION, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, and HOPE in green, blue, lime green, and yellow with those colors (and more) spreading to the "people" on their arms and faces.

This drawing was to show support for The Dakota Rogers Project. It isn't one of our usual colorful ones, but I wanted something that shows how connection, kindness, and hope brings color into our lives and fights back the darkness.

At The CO-OP at Shoal Creek basketball court area

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "The world would be boring if we were all the same - Bring life - Bring color - Bring YOU" The first line is all done in a yellow/green color and the rest of the lines are in lots of different colors. The word "color" is done in skin tones with different colors for the shadow/contrast lines.

I can’t put into words why making this message for their students was so important to me, so I’ll just post the chalk drawing.

At the Adult Education & Literacy Center

But I will say diversity makes us better.

To anyone else saying you’re good so those around you aren’t uncomfortable, you don’t have to do that with me.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing of a rainbowy skeleton giving a thumbs up while sinking in water and saying, "I'm good, bro."

When I had to find something else to draw last weekend, my kiddo looked through saved pictures to try to find something. This made us laugh, but it wasn’t something for a school or library, so I had to wait to borrow a friend’s driveway.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "Just make it EXIST first. You can make it GOOD later."

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance. The drawing says, "Just make it EXIST first. You can make it GOOD later."

I haven't been feeling creative or positive, but still needed to see some color. My kiddo picked this out.

At Oak Park High School

My original drawing idea had to be swapped out for something quicker, and even that was pared down a couple of times as the time went by and I was still trying to get over there. There will be a rainbowy panther there at some point.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing of a heart and the words Be Kind. The heart is rainbowy streaks of color and each letter in the text is in a different color.

Joining Northview’s Family Service Night to chalk the playground is one of my favorite evenings of the year, but the rain that evening messed up going last week. Raise Craze ends tomorrow, and I wanted to join in somehow, even if it was a night drawing to surprise them.

At Northview

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "Make your mark - See where it takes you!" With a mandala inspired dot in the middle.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance. The chalk drawing says, "Make your mark - See where it takes you!" With a mandala inspired dot in the middle.

This Dot Day drawing was inspired by mandalas, but we played with shapes and symbols—including one as a nod to one of our special teachers. We couldn’t think of other symbols to use for the other teachers, but we hope they know the drawing is for them, too.

At Antioch Middle School

Photo of a flower plant. Small pink and yellow flowers are clustered together to make a larger flower.

Photo of a flower bed.

I would love to see more of our schools include native wildflowers in their landscaping and teaching about them.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "Make your mark - See where it takes you!" With a flowery dot in the center.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance and beside a mural of a forest scene. The chalk drawing says, "Make your mark - See where it takes you!" With a flowery dot in the center.

For this Dot Day drawing, we took inspiration from one of the beautiful flowers in their flowerbed. Did our flower dot turn out like we hoped? Not really. But that's the beauty of Dot Day—try new things and know that if you don't like it in the end, it can just be a dot.

At Rising Hill Elementary

And I can now say again that we have made at least one chalk drawing at all of the NKC schools. Adding a new school messed that up for a bit there. ;)

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "Ripples - When you create a difference in someone's life, you impact everyone influenced by them throughout their entire lifetime. No act is ever too small. Go create waves, Greenway Otters!"

We enjoyed seeing Greenway's beautiful new building during their Open House today. I love all of their blues and greens, and the theme of spreading kindness into the community. I wanted something to complement a quote they have on a wall inside without copying it outright.

At Greenway Elementary

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "YOU ARE AWESOME! (In case you needed a reminder)"

A little reminder for all of you, too.

At Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library

We weren’t able to get one in before the school year ended, but we made one today, and hopefully, they get to see it. Not all of the stars made it into the picture. (2/2)

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "Our Stars shine bright!" There are stars dotted around and make a couple of "constellations".

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "Our Stars shine bright!" There are stars dotted around and make a couple of "constellations".

During one of the drawings over at Antioch Middle School last May, we saw a few people coming and going for an elementary music program. One was a mom with her kiddo, and she asked if we would be making another drawing at Gashland Elementary. (1/2)

At Gashland Elementary

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "Read books change the world."

My kiddo met friends at the library tonight, and I smeared some colors. Rain is possible tonight and expected tomorrow, so it's a long one tucked under the covering and avoiding someone else's drawing. Another awkward picture.

Read books change the world

At Antioch Mid-Continent Public Library

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says, "This is your time to... Shine, Be brave, Succeed, Follow your dreams, Work hard, Achieve your goals."

A rare morning chalk drawing. My helper was already at school, and my coffee was forgotten at home, but I'm stubborn and wanted something to greet them for classes starting today.

At the Adult Education & Literacy Center

I wish the camera saw all the colors.

And it was hard thinking I'd be breaking the tradition of the clasped hands being fresh and colorful for the first day of school.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing of two clasped hands surrounded by "splatters" of colors radiating out. One hand is in a light skin tone color and the other hand is in a dark skin tone color.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance. The chalk drawing is of two clasped hands surrounded by "splatters" of colors radiating out. One hand is in a light skin tone color and the other hand is in a dark skin tone color.

I went back and forth this morning trying to decide whether we would go out in the heat today or not. I finally decided we should wait for another day, but then I saw a splattered paint background in a photo, and we wanted to throw some water around to make the same look.

At Antioch Middle School

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing of a rainbowy panther.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing of a rainbowy panther along with the text "YOU BELONG HERE". The word YOU is done in yellows and orange, BELONG is in green and blues, and HERE is in pink and purples.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near a school entrance. The drawing is a rainbowy panther along with the text "YOU BELONG HERE". The word YOU is done in yellows and orange, BELONG is in green and blues, and HERE is in pink and purples.

I have wanted to see their panther in all the chalky colors since the first chalk drawing I made there three years ago. Bring on all the colors. 🥰

At Chinn Elementary - Park Hill School District

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says "Welcome Roadrunners" with each letter in a different color.

For their Back to School Night tonight. We miss our Meadowbrook family, but we were lucky to see a couple of them the other night at Oak Park.

At Meadowbrook Elementary

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing that says WELCOME NORTHMEN. The letters in welcome are different colors and Northmen is in different shades of blue.

Photo of a sidewalk chalk drawing near the student entrance. The drawing says WELCOME NORTHMEN. The letters in welcome are different colors and Northmen is in different shades of blue.

We're not ready for school to start, but we're pretending to be. For tomorrow's Back-to-School Night.

At Oak Park High School Student Entrance