Nancy Silberkleit, the seasoned anti-bullying and literacy advocate, is proud to announce the Strides To Stop Bullying Essay Event, a new anti-bullying initiative for 2012. This inspirational event, open to students across the country, encourages youth to share their true stories and insight to raise awareness and stop the harm that bullying can do.

Led by a panel including Former New York Governor David Paterson, Stan Davis of stopbullyingnow.com and Nancy Silberkleit, the contest will raise funds for the International Bullying Prevention Association. Selected youth will also have their story serve as the inspiration for a forthcoming educational, not-for-profit comic book written by Nancy Silberkleit. Selected essays may also be published anonymously in other ways.

Nancy Silberkleit, co-CEO of Archie Comics, is using her educational training and experience to inspire self-confidence and strength in children of all ages. The Strides To Stop Bullying Essay Event was conceived by Silberkleit as a way to create an inspired community while also furthering her philanthropic reach.

She is currently working on a series of educational comic book focusing on children’s issues such as bullying. She aims to share her words of strength and inspiration with today’s youth. She advises, “Never let anyone define who you are. You know who you are.”

The Strides To Stop Bullying Essay Event, open to all students across the country ages 8-18, will be open for submissions February 1st- May 1st. To enter, children must write a 250-word true essay on the topic of bullying. They may send their own true story about what made things better when they were bullied, or how they supported someone else who was bullied.

These essays will be used as the inspiration for one of Nancy Silberkleit’s upcoming educational comics. For the first 200 essays sent in, Nancy Silberkleit will donate $5 per essay to the International Bullying Prevention Association.

“Creating a school environment free of harassment and discrimination has been a long term goal of mine,” says Governor Paterson. “I’m proud to further align myself with causes such as this contest that encourage our youth to speak out and unite against bullying.”

The article ‘Stride to Stop Bullying Essay Event’ to Raise Awareness and Funds appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Sheniz Erkan (Left), an Australian schoolgirl from Melbourne, decided to take her own life, a week before her 15^th birthday after being bullied at school and on social networking sites. It has been reported that more than 14,000 people have already paid tribute to the late Cairnlea Soccer player, and several memorial videos have been uploaded on YouTube in her honor.

Her death shocked many. According to The Canberra Times, “Twenty-five per cent of all young people experience a mental health issue in any given year. Responses to cyber-bullying should focus on building resilience, protecting mental health and strengthening peer support networks.” Sheniz’s elder brother, Aykut Erkan, believes that his sister has been bullied for a while; he told Herald Sun that,

I think it was going on a long time. In her mind, in leaving us she might have thought she was taking the problem away from everyone. She never wanted to let anyone down and she never wanted to tell anyone about it because she didn’t want anyone to worry. She was so full of life, a real bundle of joy. No one remembers her in a bad way.

Aziz Behich, the Melbourne Heart defender, dedicated his match to her. The Heart players wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence in her honor. Behich is a close family friend of Sheniz and was among the mourners at her Friday funeral. The defender told Sunday Herald Sun that, “She was a very good player with Cairnlea Soccer Club and a great Heart fan as well – she was at most of our home games.

We were very close family friends. Our parents have known each other for a long time and I want to dedicate the game to Sheniz and hopefully we can win.”

Even after Sheniz Erkan’s passing, people still continued to harass her. News sources reported that a group of haters have hacked into Sheniz’s Facebook account and posted disturbing messages on her Facebook tribute page of 27,000 fans. Her brother said, ”it is even more hurtful that after her death, she is still being bullied from beyond the grave.”

The Telegraph said, Sheniz called her best friend, Renay Sumercan, a few minutes before committing suicide and told her that she loved her dearly. Renay later revealed Sheniz’s last words and encouraged victims of bullying to speak up and ask for help when they still can.

Sheniz Erkan was laid to rest last Friday, family and friends prayed for her at the Sunshine Mosque, where Iman Esat Yapici started the funeral service in a traditional Islamic manner. In his sermon, he urged the mourners to forgive those who were indirectly involved in Sheniz’s death.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Sheniz-Erkan/337185602977594

The article Schoolgirl Sheniz Erkan Takes Her Own Life appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Cox is launching a multi-faceted anti-bullying public service campaign in response to the growing problem of youth bullying in Virginia. This program will reach parents and children, while providing tools needed to successfully cope with bullying. This effort is in coordination with the premiere of Cox Channel 11′s “Plugged-In: Breaking the Bully Culture” special.

The program will premiere on Sunday, November 20, at 8 p.m. Also, radio personalities from several radio stations in the Hampton Roads market are partnering with Cox to share important information on bullying. Nick Taylor and Tricia Harris Friddell from Z104; Chuck Doudand Mary Kathryn Wood from The Point, Teresa Baker from R&B-FM; and Jenna Kehoe from 2WD will appear in the television advertisements intended to raise awareness of the problem of bullying.

Also, free informational resource cards and “Take Charge! Stop the Bullying” wristbands will be available at all Cox Solutions Stores for kids and parents during this campaign. These materials address the warning signs of youth bullying and offer advice for kids on how to better deal with bullying situations and behaviors.

Gary McCollum, SVP & General Manager of Cox Communications said, “The statistics which show how many of our kids are being bullied, are alarming. Our goal is to bring more general awareness to this important issue, and to arm both children and parents with resources to face and overcome it.”

Research from the National Center for Bullying Prevention, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, was used to develop the materials for this public service effort. The following are statistics which are most prominent in the findings:

• One in every four kids is bullied frequently
• Only twenty-five to fifty percent of those children report the bullying
• This is a growing problem and quickly becoming an epidemic in this country.

McCollum adds, “Cox Communications is committed to supporting youth and education, and we are proud to launch this state-wide campaign.”

“Plugged In: Breaking the Bully Culture” Special on Cox 11

Cox Channel 11 will air another episode of its award-winning show “Plugged In: Breaking the Bully Culture” on Sunday. This special will give viewers a closer look at the impact of bullying behaviors on young people.

The show is hosted by Z104 morning radio personality, Nick Taylor, who speaks with students from Crittenden and Passage Middle Schools about the bullying behaviors they face everyday. Experts throughout Virginia who specialize in the advocacy for bullying prevention also join the discussion.

• Dr. Catherine Moffett , Associate Professor, Counselor Education, VCU
• Dr. Tawyna Pettiford-Wates , Founder & Director, The Conciliation Project
• Donzell Lewis , The Conciliation Project
• Janelle Spitz, Principal, Passage Middle School
• Patrice Lambusta , Library Media Specialist, Passage Middle School
• Tanya Graham , Teacher, Crittenden Middle School
• Nicholas Diggs , Teacher, Crittenden Middle School
• Deborah Christian , Certified Trainer, The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

Participating in this production is a panel of bullying prevention experts from across the state including advisors from Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, the Virginia Departments of Health and Education, and the National Center for the Prevention of Bullying.

Students from Passage Middle School and Crittenden Middle school were part of the interactive audience of the ‘Plugged In’ special hosted by Z104′s Nick Taylor. Tips and information sharing for subscribers will also occur regularly on the Cox Facebook and Twitter pages during the campaign.

There will be additional airings of this show throughout December and January on Cox 11 Hampton Roads, Cox 9 Roanoke, and the program will be available On Demand channel 2069.

The article Cox Communications to Launch Anti-Bullying Campaign in Virginia appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.