Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people throughout Mission Viejo are expected to form a human chain link of kindness and compassion during the Links of Character event Sunday.
The event is based on Rachel’s Challenge, a life-changing program inspired by Rachel Scott, who was killed in the Columbine High School shootings. Shortly after her death, Rachel’s family found an essay she wrote challenging the reader to show kindness and compassion to others and spark a chain reaction.
The City’s Community of Character Committee has helped schools, groups and individuals to embrace Rachel’s Challenge. People of all ages have written messages of caring and compassion on paper chains to link during the April 25 Links of Character event. Sunday’s event is part of the City’s two-day Arts Alive Festival along the Village Green at Oso Viejo Park, 24932 Veterans Way.
Fourteen schools and organizations will participate in the paper chain walk down Oso Creek trail. All groups will assemble at their assigned location at 1:30 p.m., with the paper chain walk starting time at 2 p.m.
Groups departing from Reilly School include Reilly; Linda Vista; Carl Hankey; Bathgate; De Portola; Del Lago; Castille; Barcelona Hills; and Capistrano Valley High School. Groups departing from the Elks Lodge include St. Kilian; Mission Viejo Christian School; Student Activity Committee; and Saddleback College. Newhart School participants will depart from the north end of Newhart, walk south on Veterans Way, west along La Paz and onto the Oso Creek trail.
Community members who want to carry their personalized chains are encouraged to assemble at the Reilly School location by 1:30 p.m.
For more information and to obtain paper links before the event, call Tammy Descoteaux at 949-470-8433 or Leslie McDonald at 949-470-8412.
Along with Links of Character, Arts Alive features a bevy of cultural, artistic and environmental activities and entertainment including the 12th Annual Fun with Chalk street painting festival; Green Expo; Artes de la Vida; and the Oso Creek Sense of Place Trail Flag Project. The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free shuttle service is available from the Civic Center at 220 Civic Center. Festival parking is available at Newhart Middle School, the community center and along Veterans Way.
For more information, visit www.cityofmissionviejo.org/artsalivefestival. Information is also available by contacting Mayor Trish Kelley, Co-Chair, at trishkelley@cox.net.
What a wonderful event – thank you to all who made it possible!