How Bellen Woodard Is Changing Classrooms With Crayons & Kindness
Sometimes, kindness begins with a crayon and that is where Bellen Woodard started.
It doesn’t originate in a speech or a protest, but in the quiet moments, like when you’re sitting in class, colouring with your friends, and someone reaches for a crayon and calls it “skin colour.”
That’s what happened to Bellen Woodard, an 8-year-old student from Virginia, USA. It wasn’t a big moment. No one shouted. No one even realised something was wrong. But Bellen noticed something that didn’t sit right.
The crayon that was passed around, the one everyone called “skin colour”, didn’t look like her skin. And it didn’t look like the skin of many of her classmates either.
That one moment sparked a thought. That thought became a question, and that question changed everything.
“What if I Want to Use a Different Colour?”
Bellen went home and told her mother what had happened. When her mom gently asked, “What do you want your classmates to say when they mean that crayon?” Bellen paused and replied:
“Why don’t they just ask what colour I want to use?”
It was such a small suggestion, but so wise, so thoughtful, so kind. Because that’s what real kindness is. It’s not always loud or showy. It’s noticing something unfair and gently offering another way.
Bellen didn’t get angry. She didn’t blame anyone. She simply invited others to think more carefully, and more kindly. That sentence became the seed of something much bigger.
One Girl. One Crayon. A Whole Movement.
Bellen didn’t stop with her classroom. She wanted to help other children feel seen, included, and celebrated too. So, with help from her family, she launched the More Than Peach Project, a mission to create more inclusive art tools for kids everywhere.
She began designing and delivering her own crayon sets that featured a wide range of skin tones with empowering names like:
· “Confident Cocoa”
· “Brilliant Beige”
· “True Almond
· “Bold Bronze”
These weren’t just colours. They were messages. Messages that said:
· You belong here.
· Your skin is beautiful.
· There’s no such thing as just one “normal.”
Her crayons and sketchbooks have since reached over 1,000 classrooms and thousands of students across the U.S., and even beyond.
From Crayon Boxes to Bookshelves
Bellen didn’t stop at crayons. She also became a published author. Her picture book More Than Peach tells her story and encourages children to look at the world through a kinder, more inclusive lens.
She’s been featured on Nickelodeon, The Washington Post, and NBC Nightly News, and has received awards for her leadership and innovation. But through it all, Bellen has remained grounded in what matters most:
· That every child should feel seen.
· That no one should be left out.
· And that kindness includes everyone.
Why Zorzle Celebrates Bellen
At Zorzle, we believe kindness isn’t just about helping someone when they fall. It’s also about standing up when something feels unfair, even if it’s small. Even if it’s quiet.
Bellen’s story reminds us that:
· You don’t need to shout to change the world.
· Representation matters, in art, in books, in everyday life.
· Kindness is most powerful when it includes everyone.
· Children can be leaders of change, even in primary school.
She’s proof that activism can begin in the classroom, with crayons, curiosity, and care.
What You Can Do Like Bellen
You don’t need a company or a press release to do what Bellen did. You just need to notice, ask, and include.
Here are 3 ways you can follow her lead:
Check Your Crayons or Art Supplies
Look at your colouring tools. Do they reflect all kinds of people? Can you rename any of the colours to be kinder and more creative?
Think About Who’s Missing
In your classroom, your games, your drawings, who isn’t represented? Who might feel invisible? What could you do to help them feel welcome?
Speak With Kindness
If someone says or does something that leaves others out, you don’t have to argue. You can just gently ask: “Could we try saying that differently?” or “What colour would you like to use?”
Our Final Thought
Bellen Woodard didn’t wait for someone else to fix the problem. Instead, she reminded all of us that the world isn’t just one colour, and kindness isn’t just one shape. It can be bold, creative, quiet, or loud. It can start with a crayon and reach around the world.
So go ahead. Pick up your pencils, and draw a world where everyone belongs.
Join the Zorzle Conversation
We’d love you to be part of the Zorzle conversation. Together, we’re exploring how kindness, curiosity, courage and laughter can shape the world around us and the one our children will inherit.
Come and join us on Substack for more stories, ideas and conversations. Or settle in with the Love, Laughter & Kindness podcast as we meet people, share experiences and explore what a kinder future could look like.
