President and COO Jay McKenna and district manager Cristen Baumann with the community leaders selected to spread more kindness with North Shore Bank’s help this summer, as well as Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

Today the bank unveiled the new “Be Kind” art installation at our North End branch.

The sculpture measures 7 by 4 feet and is the creation of Milwaukee artist Fred Kaems, who also painted the branch windows to complement it. The summer-themed art installation will be up through August.

A clearer look at the art installation.

The “parklet” where the artwork sits will be used for community events as part of North Shore Bank’s ongoing Bank on Kindness initiative, including:

Cookies were handed out at the veiling.

• A “Kindness Rocks!” event on Saturday, June 25, to decorate rocks with inspirational messages to take or leave for others to find. As at the recent Corporate employee rock-painting event, participants can scatter the rocks across the city to spread positivity and kindness or add them to the branch’s rock garden.
• A “Dog Days of Summer” event on Sunday, July 17, with Fido-friendly food, agility activities, puppy pools, and more.
• A North End Community Clean Up event on Saturday, August 27, with local organizations and community members working together to clean up the area, with refreshments provided.

Bank employees gathered for a photo in front of the art installation. From left: Kristen Gagliano, Angela Byrd, Kate Knox, Audrey Sellers, Jay and Cristen, Heather Somers, Breanna Rooney, Sue Doyle, Kristin Monday, Ray Guardiola, and Mike Kellman. North End universal banker Shannon Quinn and traveling teller Andrew Hullin assisted customers inside the branch during the ceremony.

At the unveiling ceremony, the bank honored five “kindness community leaders,” who each received $500 to be used to spread more kindness throughout the city. Mayor Cavalier Johnson also attended, and recognized the day with a proclamation declaring today “Be Kind Day” throughout Milwaukee. You read more in the bank’s official press release.