Houston Kraft has spoken at over 700 events internationally. In 2016, he co-founded CharacterStrong which currently serves 10,000 schools across 50 states and 45 countries helping to support the teaching of kindness in education. In 2019, his face was featured on Lays BBQ chip bags as someone who helps “spread smiles.” In 2020, his first book Deep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness was published by Simon & Schuster. In 2023, the companion guide Be Kind: A 52-Week Journal for Practicing Kindness was published. He has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, Hallmark, Huffpost, and more as an expert on developing a more empathetic, kind world. His mom is his hero and her best life lesson is to “hug like you mean it.”
Click here to see some videos of Houston speaking.
In a world filled with division and anxiety, Houston will talk about practical ways to infuse compassion into the schools we serve and our daily personal routines. From his experience speaking in over 700 schools and working with over 10,000 schools as co-founder of CharacterStrong, he will share powerful insights and exercises to help create more kind communities.
Sometimes the adults in our buildings are the toughest audience. They are also the key to long-term change. Culture is the sum of the behaviors in your school or district – the behaviors of both students AND staff. Put a practical focus on effective behavior change through the thoughtful teaching of social and emotional learning, character development, and relationship-building. In this interactive and resource-packed session, you will learn a framework for purposeful culture change.
With seemingly endless obstacles over the past 4 years, those in the field of education face increased stress and pressure. Our students are navigating increased mental health challenges. Houston will share simple, but impactful ways to provide meaningful supports for student AND adult well-being to decrease anxiety and increase hope.
