To our community partners…THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
We are so thankful for your astounding involvement in the community. Your daily actions  make the world a better place!
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With so many reports of senseless violence, there is a lot of fear. Parents are afraid to send their children to school and children are afraid to go to school.  Schools should be a place of learning not grieving.   Our work is possible because you care;  together we CAN make a difference.  With every dollar you invest, you make it possible for us to create “Bully Free Zones” in schools and communities. You are amazing!
On behalf of our youth, board and staff, thank you for your incredible support  and look forward to another amazing year.

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ASK Youth Leader

Together Against Bullying- United for Kindness, Acceptance and Inclusion
Sponsored by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center since 2011

  “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”
–Ian Maclaren (aka John Watson)

National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign initiated in 2006 by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center and kicks off in the month of October. The purpose of this campaign is welcoming and uniting communities from around the United States; also educating and raising awareness about bullying.

Connect for Respect (C4R) is National PTA’s initiative to help students, parents and educators to create school climates full of safe and supportive peer relationships.

Research shows that one of the most effective ways to prevent bullying behavior is to create a positive school climate. School climate encompasses everything that contributes to a student's experience with a school—from the physical building to policies, staff and peer culture. Positive school climates exist in schools where students, families and educators all work collaboratively to build a culture of respect.







ASK Academy and the Stop Bullying System are a big part of the National Anti-Bullying Month through our Respect for All Campaigns in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the campaigns we support is the Respect 24/7 Campaign, in San Mateo County.

ASK Academy helps schools, parents, businesses and community leaders create Respect for All Campaigns to educate and reduce bullying.  

ASK Academy assists in devising a plan to form a School/Community Climate and Safety Committee to reduce bullying and create a welcoming and healthy school and community environment. The Climate Safety Committee empowers youth leaders, schools and communities to educate and prevent bullying for the entire year.

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Here are some ways communities get involved...

Business Professionals: Host an event for community families and youth to bring awareness and to educate them on how they can take part in bullying prevention.

Schools:  Host a Respect for All Assembly and then follow up classroom seminars and other school-wide activities throughout the year.

Parents:  Create family-school partnerships,  healthier school environments and better student outcomes.  This is accomplished through peace building seminars and at PTA/PTO monthly meetings.  

Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence is that “Nonviolence is a Way of Life for Courageous People”

Don’t be a bystander, get involved and make a difference!  Show you care about the students, your community and your school—become a powerful voice for change!

References:

1. United for Kindness; http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp
2. Connect for Respect: http://www.pta.org/C4R
3. Unity Day: http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp

Xochitl Yaotl

Bullying in College



Even as kids reach adolescence, they need more than ever for us to watch over them. Adolescence is not about letting go. It's about hanging on during a very bumpy ride.
Ron Taffel


ASK Academy is widely known as an organization that helps teens stay safe and productive, however, we also work with young adults in schools and businesses.  The same principles apply whether child or adult.  Here’s the story of one of our mentors and a bullying situation addressed at a University:

“Today, a parent called to inquire on how the student could withdraw from the university.

I provided the instructions and as I was doing so, asked what the reasons were for withdrawing.   The parent said that it was because the student had been bullied all freshman year long by school peers. According to the parent, the peers had been pressuring the student into doing certain things and threatening if the student didn’t participate.  The parent started crying while sharing, because  is aware that bullying victims do take their lives when bullying becomes unbearable.  

The parent said that the student  hadn’t mentioned anything to anybody due to fear. It all came out one day when the parent saw that the student was really sad, the parent asked the student what was wrong and the student broke down in tears sharing the horrendous experience with bullying.



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I asked the parent if the student had spoken to anybody on campus or if student had reached out to any of the available resources; student  had not because was too scared. I told the parent that the University offers many resources to deal with such matters and that student could have talked to any of them regarding the student’s safety.

The parent said that they had schedule an appointment for the student  to see a psychiatrist and will look into other universities close to home. Parent stated that they will reconsider sending the student  back to University but is leaning more towards withdrawing.

I provided the parent with the contact number for all University resources .”


By Tonalnan Yaotl

“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?”—Jean Jacques Rousseau  

Local residents can vote to help  ASK Academy “In Our Own Words” youth led project decrease bullying in the partner schools and promote a healthy and safe school environment and community.  Promoting the leadership capacity of local youth to develop conflict resolution skills, anti-bullying strategies and ongoing support through group or individual peer to peer assistance to youth.

Bay Area-based ASK Academy supports a youth-led anti-bullying campaign:  “In Our Own Words” and peer support services to address and create a culture of peace and nonviolence in the Jefferson Union High School District.  “In Our Own Words” is in the running to receive $10,000 from KIND Healthy Snack, and they’re now asking area residents for their support.

Community members can visit: http://causes.kindsnacks.com/cause/in-our-own-words/ to place a vote for “In Our Own Words.”  The effort comes as part of KIND Causes, a monthly grant program that celebrates people spreading kindness in their communities.

Students said that bullying is a top issue in their school, with cyber bullying and bullying related to race or ethnicity as the most common. When asked “Is bullying directed at one particular group due to race, gender or appearance?” One responded “people who don’t speak English too good.”

Local data indicates disparate rates of bullying among populations of color, with African Americans experiencing the highest rate of bullying at 48.2%, followed by Pacific Islanders at 36.4%. (kidsdata.org).

Receiving $10K from KIND would help support our efforts addressing cyber bullying and bullying related to race or ethnicity

Voting is live through the end of the month. The cause that attracts the most support will receive the funding, and the KIND team will then rally to help them increase their impact. Through voting, people are also committing to carrying out a kind act in their own life – all in the spirit of paying it forward!


“Over the years, through ASK Academy, Shakeel Ali  has committed  his life to making the lives of our youth better in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties by providing mentoring and showing kids the value of multimedia technology in a classroom setting.” - City Councilman


“Your trainings are SO important, we NEED to have to have you come to our school at the beginning of the year so we can implement the services throughout the entire year.” – Teacher

 
There are a number of inspiring causes participating, so support from the local community is key to ASK Academy “In Our Own Words” receiving the funding.

 For more information, contact askacademy.org@gmail.com.

“Truth or Dare”, a game that exudes mixed emotions in most of us, primarily because a lot of the associated memories get reflected from our childhood. Not withstanding the fact that this memory recall is always refreshing but we also have to keep in mind the shame and embarrassment it brings to some of us. Even though the game is meant to be fun to challenge a dare to our friends and watch them face awkward situations, most of us know when to STOP and are aware about the Do’s and Don’ts and acknowledge the need to maintain rationality in our action. But sometimes we do cross the line into making it a psychological trauma for some. I am sure a lot of people can relate to it and have been on both the sides of the game, having said that, the main reason I am writing this blog is to debate whether we should have a systematic approach to handle the substantial effects of the game, or should we just sit back without even giving it a second thought and let it rest back as a haunted memory.

 

It must have been a week ago when I was working as a substitute teacher for 6th grade students. The school counselor entered and much to my surprise the counselor was there to talk about the game “Truth or Dare”. A fad of this game started at the beginning of the school year and apparently some students were bullied and out casted for not doing a dare. The frustration, and hurt associated with this game is not realized seriously as it should be. The students assume that it is fun to embarrass each other but it is hurtful to some who do not end up enjoying it. One word that instantly crosses my mind is “Bullying”. Some may not agree with that or may even put it in the category of peer-pressure but wherever purposeful action that causes pain and trauma comes, it automatically puts it in the same basket. The main motive of games is to create a healthy environment of fun and laughter and not stress or tension.

“A lot of people are afraid to tell the truth, to say no. That’s where toughness comes into play. Toughness is not being a bully. It’s having backbone.”

-Robert Kiyosaki



National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign initiated in 2006 by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center and kicks off in the month of October. The purpose of this campaign is welcoming and uniting communities from around the United States; also educating and raising awareness about bullying. The event started off as a weeklong event and it has now grown into a month-long event. The event was expanded in 2010 to include activities, education, and awareness building for the entire month. Schools and various organizations across the country have signed up as partner for this event. This includes multinationals and media giants like Facebook, CNN and Yahoo!   1


Ask Academy and the Stop Bullying System are a big part of National Anti-Bullying Month through our
  Respect For All Campaigns in The San Francisco Bay Area.  For instance, we support  the Respect 24/7 Campaign in San Mateo County.  Some of the Pacifica schools involved are:


*Oceana High School.

* Ingrid B. Lacy Middle School.

*Vallemar School.



At these schools’ students help create Respect For All Campaigns which begin with a Respect For All Assembly and then follow up classroom seminars and other school-wide activities throughout the year.


Focusing on Bullying Prevention during the month of October was conceived in response to the need to raise awareness of bullying. Historically perceived as a stepping stone to adulthood or creativity of adolescence, bullying in school among kids as we know it has devastating effects on these youngsters and has a long lasting effect on their personalities. The need to counter this brought PACER in tune with communities through partnerships with education based organizations such as National PTA, American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association to engage schools, parents and students with platform and resources to respond and counter to bullying behavior and to kick-start the societal acceptance of bullying to social change of addressing the issue through education and support.1



The sole motive of this event is to engage people and to spread awareness about the menace that we have come to know as BULLYING. Bullying is nothing but the use of force, threat, or intimidation to achieve domination over others.  Such behavior is often asserted on others by the means of verbal abuse, physical assault or coercion. This pattern of behavior often turns habitual and repetitive. To make matters worse, such behavior in most of the situation gets socially accepted and treated as a sign of aggression and leadership, making it even more difficult for the abused to counter it or stand their ground.  Some of the serious results of bullying can be depression, lack of school attendance and even death.



With intentions in mind to spread awareness, National Bullying Prevention Month tries to achieve this through events, engagements and activities. They create initiatives with their affiliated partners to address this. This year, PACER’s UNITY DAY will take place on Wednesday, October 22, the day when everyone is encouraged to come together and wear orange to send a message of support, hope and unity against Bullying. 2 The notion of being actively engaged and participation will help create an environment of non-acceptability of Bullying and support for those who are affected by this.  At the end of the day, there is no better means of spreading awareness than engaging people and educating them practically.













Another talking point of the initiative is the partner events. Partners like Facebook, Disney and CNN have outreach to the people that far out-numbers PACER or any social cause for that matter. Utilizing these partner channels is a major break-through for such event given the potential size of the target audience.


“Choose Kindness” is part of Disney ABC Television Group’s effort in creating a bullying prevention campaign, a great channel to target young kids and parents in educating them about Bullying before they even encounter it. 3



Different partner agencies are conducting and holding events like “run, walk and roll against Bullying” to gain the attention of the adults towards bullying. Support and nurture from adults is something that younger generations seek to overcome Bullying.



The Stop Bullying System is continuing Respect For All Campaigns and the “In Our Own Words” Project this October in Pacifica and Daly City Schools.


In essence, PACER with National Bullying Prevention Month jumps in to create a platform where people can unite, combine and focus their efforts in normalizing the menace of Bullying. It is a program that is meant to anti-socialize the acceptance of Bullying. Likewise, with the Respect For All Campaign, youth and adults work together to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome.  At the end of the day, like any other relief effort, ends can only meet when the knots are tied at the right places.





References:



1.     History

http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/history.asp




2.     Unity Day

http://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/unity-day.asp




3.     Choose Kindness

http://citizenship.disney.com/be-inspired?cds