University Honors Custodian Who Replaced Racist Graffiti with Kindness

Many custodians are unsung heroes for the time and care they take in making facilities cleaner and healthier for residents. Keri Courtwright, a custodian at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, took her work a bit further by making the campus a bit kinder, inspiring the university to honor her with an Unsung Heroes Award, Syracuse.com reports.

Late last year Courtwright found herself removing racist and hate-filled graffiti during her night shift at the school. Wanting to do more than clean away the hate, she printed up small signs with inspirational sayings such as “kindness changes everything,” and “We are different and that’s beautiful.” Then she taped these signs in random areas around the campus.

This is not Courtwright’s first action to spread kindness. About two years ago she started a Facebook group to directly connect people in need with those who can help them. The website has helped people obtain free essentials such as clothing, food, and diapers. Courtwright also has hosted clothing giveaways in her residential driveway on Sundays.

Courtwright was one of four other unsung heroes honored by Syracuse University.