October 31, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Holmquist 952-838-9000, [email protected]
PACER Announces Unite Against Bullying Guide
Student event planning guide helps teens take action in the community
MINNEAPOLIS: PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center with the support of Facebook, worked to develop a practical tool that students can use to hold bullying prevention events in their schools and communities. “Unite Against Bullying: A Student Event Planning Guide” is a step-by-step guide that helps teens plan, promote, and execute a variety of events designed to raise awareness of bullying prevention and generate support for the cause.
“We are thrilled to have worked with Facebook to create a guide that enables students to amplify the bullying prevention message in a positive, proactive way,” said Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. “Student-led initiatives make a powerful statement to peers and the community that bullying is not acceptable.”
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, which was originated by PACER in 2006, and students around the country are raising awareness through events, activities, outreach, and education. PACER provides a variety of resources that make it easier for students, parents, teachers, and members of the community at large to take action in October and throughout the year. By incorporating Facebook’s built-in tools, such as groups and social plug-ins (‘likes’ for example), into the planning process students can more effectively organize events and maximize participation.
The Student Event Planning Guide is available for download from PACER.org/bullying. Facebook is supporting the project on its “Stop Bullying: Speak Up” page as well as on its Facebook in Education (https://www.facebook.com/education) and Facebook Safety (https://www.facebook.com/fbsafety) pages.
“PACER is doing important work to prevent bullying across the country, and we’re excited to be a part of this initiative to get students engaged in making bullying uncool,” said Joel Kaplan, Facebook’s Vice President for Public Policy. “Students are doing so much to lead the bullying prevention movement and Facebook has a variety of tools they can use to speak up against bullying, and make a positive difference."
The guide encourages students to be leaders by showing that they care. It is written in student-friendly language and walks users through five steps to staging a successful bullying prevention event. The guide offers practical tips about logistics, suggests potential activities to incorporate into an event, and provides ways to use Facebook throughout the planning process.
"This guide is a tool that both students and educators can use to get involved in their schools and communities," said Kaplan. "One activity suggested in the guide is for students, as well as adults, to speak up and take the ‘Stop Bullying: Speak Up’ pledge together. This pledge seeks to raise awareness of the simple yet powerful actions that students, parents, and educators can take to prevent bullying. Student-led events like the kind outlined in this guide are one way to do that.”
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About PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center unites, engages, and educates communities nationwide to prevent bullying through the use of creative, interactive resources including the websites TeensAgainstBullying.org and KidsAgainstBullying.org. PACER offers educators, students, families, and individuals the tools they need to address bullying in schools, the community, and online. For more information on PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center visit PACER.org/bullying.
About PACER Center: Based in Minnesota, PACER Center is a national parent center serving all youth, with a special emphasis on children with disabilities. Learn more at PACER.org or call 952-838-9000; 888-248-0822 (national toll free). Paula F. Goldberg is the Executive Director of PACER Center.