Unity Day FAQ - Episode 6

Unity Day is PACER’s signature event during National Bullying Prevention Month. This week, we are answering the most frequently asked questions we get about why it’s important to wear and share orange.

Transcript

Hey welcome back to PACERTalks About Bullying. I'm Bailey we're glad you're here.

This week we are talking about all things Unity Day. Unity Day is PACER's signature event during National Bullying Prevention Month. And it's an awesome day to wear and share orange to join together against bullying. Since Unity Day is something that's celebrated by individuals all across the world, in this weeks episode we're going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that we get about Unity Day. So with that being said let's get started.

So the first most frequently asked question that we get is: When's Unity Day? Unity Day is typically held the third or fourth Wednesday of October. In 2017 this year it will be held on Wednesday October 25th so make sure to mark your calendars.

Another commonly asked question we get is why the color orange? Well as Unity Day is in October orange is commonly already associated with the month and the autumn season. It's also commonly associated with themes like safety, and visibility, and warmth. And it's vibrancy -- it makes an awesome statement.

Along with wanting to know when and why orange, we also get a lot of questions about how schools can get involved. As a school there are a ton of ways that you can celebrate Unity Day. A few ideas include ordering a Unity Day poster from PACER's website which we have available in both English and Spanish. Encouraging all your students to wear an orange item on Unity Day such as a T-shirt, orange sneakers, even an orange wristband. To having a unity discussion in your classroom about what unity means and how it relates to bullying prevention, there is a ton of ways.

Along with schools wondering what they can do we also get a ton of questions from businesses and organizations wondering how they can get involved with Unity Day. Go orange, be creative. For example in 2013 the iconic Green Giant statue in Blue Earth Minnesota wore an orange toga on Unity Day, and lit up the night sky with an orange glow.

Other ideas include cayenne tie an orange ribbon around fences or a tree, offering an orange item for sale with the proceeds going back to the National Bullying Prevention Center. Encouraging your employees or members of your organization to wear and share orange on Unity Day, or creating a unity mural sharing with the hashtag Unity Day 2017.

And one of the last and most frequently asked questions that we get is what can one person do? Well everyone's involvement is so important. Bullying prevention moves beyond the school walls into the community. It's up to all of us to ensure that students are safe and supported at school, online, and in our communities. Anyone can wear and share orange on Unity Day and post using the hashtag Unity Day 2017. For so long students who experienced bullying felt as though no one cared. So simply by wearing the color orange you can show them that they're not alone and that our community cares.

And that wraps up our most frequently asked questions about Unity Day. If you want more information on Unity Day such as ordering free posters or reading stories from what other schools and communities have done on Unity Day, you can visit our website PACER.org/bullying.

That's all that we have for this week, but make sure to join us right back here next week. And remember when we stand together no one stands alone. See you!