How to Be an Upstander and How to Start a Campaign
The Anti-Bullying Task Force, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) and Northwestern Michigan College, hosted the 3rd Annual Anti-Bullying Conference in Traverse City on Friday, October 17, 2014.
The one-day conference took place from 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. in the Hagerty Center on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus, located at 715 East Front Street in Traverse City.
The focus of the event was How to Be an Upstander and How to Start a Campaign and offered sessions for both youth and adults.
Conference facilitators were from the national “Not In Our Town” organization. Not In Our Town is a movement to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all. Not In Our Town films, new media, and organizing tools help local leaders build vibrant, diverse cities and towns, where everyone can participate.
“Not In Our School” highlights and creates networks of schools working to be safe, accepting and inclusive, and free of bullying and all forms of intolerance.
The Anti-Bullying Task Force is a partnership of local, regional and statewide organizations created to help eliminate bullying. The Task Force has focused its efforts in a five-county region in northwest Michigan, with an emphasis on improving school climate and helping vulnerable populations of all ages.
Conference Facilitator
Dr. Becki Cohn-Vargas, director of Not In Our School (NIOS), served as primary facilitator. She has spoken on the subject of how to combat bullying at conferences, schools and universities across the United States. Becki's new book, “Identity Safe Classrooms: Places to Belong and Learn,” co-authored with Dr. Dorothy Steele, was published by Corwin Press. Prior to working at The Working Group, she spent over 35 years in public education in California. While serving in Palo Alto in 2003, Becki initiated Not In Our School: Palo Alto, one of the first NIOS initiatives featured on KQED public television.
In The News
Conference urges students to stand up to bullying
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE
October 16, 2014