NIC students share the love
<p>Bryan Anderson, center, of Rathdrum receives a group hug from North Idaho College students Sunday as the students made their way through downtown Coeur d’Alene to spread the love and celebrate “Global Love Day,” as well as Coeur d’Alene’s “Choose Love Over Fear” day. The NIC students, from left surrounding Anderson: Asher Rose, AJ Konda, Nicole Hill and Mallory Gregson running over to join in.</p>
<p>North Idaho College student Nicole Hill receives a hug from Jarrett Smith of Spokane on Sunday.</p>
<p>North Idaho College student Mallory Gregson receives a hug from Addie Denke of Post Falls on Sunday. Several NIC students took to the streets of downtown Coeur d'Alene to spread the message of love in celebration of "Global Love Day," as well as Coeur d'Alene's "Choose Love Over Fear" day.</p>
<p>North Idaho College student Mallory Gregson receives a hug from Joseph Denke of Post Falls on Sunday.</p>
Hundreds of people occupied Coeur d'Alene City Beach and the streets of downtown, enjoying Sunday's warm weather, creating the perfect setting for North Idaho College students to spread the love.
For three years, NIC students have walked around the streets of downtown Coeur d'Alene to spread the message of love through hugs and high-fives. By mayor proclamation, May 1 is officially "Choose Love Over Fear" day in Coeur d'Alene to coincide with the annual "Global Love Day," started by The Love Foundation in 2004.
Kathleen Lamanna said she and Jackie Gedeik, both of Hayden, facilitated the event four years ago, and for the last three years, Mayor Steve Widmyer has read the proclamation at NIC before the kids take to the streets.
"For the last three years we've had speakers and the kids would go out and share the love," Lamanna said. "For us it is an amazing dynamism that when the kids come back they are so on fire with their stories about sharing the love — that's what's really energizing for us."
Gedeik said about 20 major cities worldwide celebrate "Global Love Day" in their own way, whether it is through art shows, dances or plays.
"It's just one of the many ways we have to bring our wonderful community together," Gedeik said. "Get people talking — random acts of kindness."
Widmyer read the proclamation Sunday afternoon in the Edminster Student Union Building at NIC before the small group of organizers and dedicated huggers.
"Choose Love Over Fear day establishes a city-wide focus on creating opportunities to celebrate individual and collective humanitarian efforts that promote love over fear," he read.
The proclamation states that everyone shares the universal bond of love and love begins with self-acceptance and forgiveness. He ended his reading of the proclamation by inviting all citizens to observe "Choose Love Over Fear" day, which "honors the public cause to come together in the spirit of universal love to eradicate fear."
Shortly after the reading of the proclamation, the half-dozen huggers headed toward City Beach, where they received several hugs from strangers of all ages.
Greda Gregson, president of the Speak Out Communications Club at NIC, said she has been with the club and helped organize the event for three years.
"There is too much hate in the world," she said.
Greda's daughter, Mallory, is an NIC student and also a participant in the event for three years.
"I like giving back to the community," Mallory said. "I feel like this world is so sheltered now and doesn't know how to open up with emotions and it's great to show that people still care."
She said her first year she hugged more than 120 people and her second year about 200. As she made her way along the beach and along Front Avenue, working her way back along Sherman Avenue, she received hug after hug from people she has never met — and a few she has.
Lamanna said the day is especially important to the youth of the community, and throughout the world.
"Really with the way the world is going now, any little bit we can do to raise the love vibration," Lamanna said. That's why this is so important."