FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2009
Contact:PACER Center 952-838-9000, 800-53-PACER
Take action against bullying by attending PACER’s Oct. 6 event at Mall of America
U.S. Assistant Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools to speak
Teens, kids, parents, and educators are invited to show support for the movement against bullying at a PACER Center event on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 4:15 to 5 p.m. at the Mall of America’s Best Buy Rotunda, located on Level I, East between Sears and Bloomingdales.
Kevin Jennings, U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools, will speak at the event highlighting PACER Center’s National Bullying Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10. This is Jenning’s first speaking engagement in Minnesota since his recent appointment to this high level position in the U.S. Department of Education.
Sponsored by PACER Center’s National Bullying Prevention Center, the event also includes the debut of Disney star Demi Lovato’s public service announcement for PACER’s new TeensAgainstBullying.org Web site, as well as great give aways and drawings, live music, contests, and the chance to sign a petition supporting the movement to stop bullying. “Working together, we can make a difference,” says Lovato, who was bullied in seventh grade. “No one deserves to be bullied.”
Up to one-third of the nation’s students are bullied during the academic year, and more than 60 percent witness bullying daily. The results of bullying can be devastating—or even tragic.
“We’re inviting everyone to join us at the Mall of America for this event, and to join us in this movement to end bullying,” said Paula Goldberg, PACER’s executive director. “By signing the petition, you can influence change and help us work for greater protection of students.”
The event also includes:- Live music by Lindsay Rush, who will perform her new single, “Odd Girl Out,” co-written by “The Gyrlz” (Daughtry and Hillary Duff). The song is about being bullied. MacPhail Center for Music students will perform before the event.
- Give aways: The first 300 teenagers to sign the online petition at the event will receive a Best Buy $10 gift card. Computers will be available for petition signing. Other give aways include free bookmarks, T-shirts, and more.
- A chance to support Teens Against Bullying. Teens age 14-18 can sign up on Best Buy’s @15 Web site (at15.com) and earn “points” to share with Teens Against Bullying, which can earn up to $250,000 for PACER’s Bullying Prevention Center and TeensAgainstBullying.org.
- Drawings: Teens (14-18) who sign up on at15.com during the event may place their name in a drawing for an iPod touch. Any school or organization with 5 or more students attending can enter the school/organization in a drawing to receive one of ten $100 Best Buy gift cards.
- Contests: Elementary school students can provide artwork to be posted to PACER’s KidsAgainstBullying.org Web site.
- An appearance by the Kids Against Bullying puppets.
In addition to attending this event and visiting PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org and PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org for elementary school children, people can unite with PACER to prevent bullying in several ways. Free activities and materials such as contests, classroom toolkits, and more are available at PACER.org to help reduce bullying in schools, recreational programs, and community groups. Organizations that share their bullying prevention activities with PACER will be listed as a partner on the bullying prevention Web sites.
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is sponsored by PACER’s National Center for Bullying Prevention, which is for all children, including those with disabilities. It promotes national bullying awareness and teaches effective ways to respond to bullying.National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week is cosponsored by the American Federation for Teachers, National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education, National Education Association, and School Social Work Association of America.
PACER Center is a national parent center located in Minneapolis, Minn. Serving all youth, with a special emphasis on children with disabilities, it provides publications, workshops, individualized assistance, and other resources to help families make decisions about education, vocational training, employment, and other services for their children. To learn more, visit PACER.org or call 952-838-9000; 800-53-PACER (Minnesota toll free); and 888-248-0822 (national toll free).
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