LGBTQA Coordinator

Beginning with a planning committee with representatives from: the Student Activities Office, Women's Resource Center, Psychology Club, Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Political Science Association, Student Government and Women in Leadership and Learning, we set out to host a day of community training followed by a speak out. These meetings led to the following: The ACT Challenge is designed to flow through three distinct groups of two stations each. These groups are designed to empower visitors through education, realization, and affirmation. 1. Education: Learning about the effects of bullying through creativity, expression, and instruction. a) Information (Psych): This station is designed to give guests a general overview of the project as a whole. They will get basic background info on how the idea came to light, some facts about bullying, and then get a rundown of all of the stations. i. After this station, they will receive an open-hand card. After completing each station, the guest will be asked to fingerprint their card as proof that they completed the station. They will then show the card at the last station to receive their tote bag. b) Training (SAO – Alli): At this station, guests will be instructed about the ways in which they can help to prevent bullying. They will see what bullying looks like, and what their options are when confronted with a bullying-type situation. This first part of this station will involve getting a card upon which guests will be asked to write the word/words that are the most hurtful to them. They will then have the opportunity to share their word/words with other members of their group. The goal of this exercise is to help individuals realize that words have meanings beyond the realm of their own personal experience. i. Guests will keep their cards with them until between the reflection and empowerment stations. 2. Realization: Coming to terms with individual experiences, and relating them to personal outward expression. a) Reflection (GSA): This station is where guests will reflect upon their own past experiences. They will have several options, as listed below: i. Letter to bully/bullied: This portion of the station is where guests will be directly confronted with their pasts. They will be asked to write a brief message to a person they were bullied by, a person they saw bullying somebody else, or a person they bullied themselves. ii. Video message: This section of the station is where guests will be able to record a short video message directed at those who may currently be suffering the effects of bullying. • Letting Go: Between Reflection and Empowerment comes the letting go portion of the event. Guests will be instructed to destroy their Word/Words of Hatred card, and will be given the option of simultaneously destroying their letters. This is a symbolic way of releasing the negative and moving into the positive. b) Words of Empowerment (WRC / WILL): This station is designed to be the first positive step toward a bully-free environment. At this point, visitors will be asked to add their own positive words of empowerment to a large sheet. These words will then be displayed around campus in an attempt to spread a positive, anti-bullying message. 3. Affirmation: Taking a stand against bullying. a) Pledge (PSA): It is at this point where people will sign a pledge vowing to take a stand against bullying. We have several options available here as well: i. Pledge: We will give guests a card with a simple message on it; something like “I pledge to take a stand against bullying by…” followed by blanks. We will then ask the guests to fill in the blanks with their own personal commitment toward anti-bullying. One suggestion made was to then mail the pledge cards back to the individuals at the start of the fall term as a simple reminder of their commitment. ii. Letter to Representative: This will be the spot where guests will be able to fill out a letter targeting a political representative in congress about their anti-bullying commitment. b) Souvenir (Student Government): After showing their fingerprinted hand card, guests will be presented with a custom tote bag filled with information regarding various orgs and sponsors, as well as anti-bullying information. The tote will display the event’s logo, as well as all of the participating org / sponsor logos. We will then snap a photo. Following this active portion of the day, the room will be turned into a theater style speak out. Local government officials: state reps, congressmen/women, Mayors and the likes are all invited to hear the stories of youth who have experienced bullying to encourage a more inclusive policy for our schools. This speak out will host a mix of personal narratives from MI high school students, performances from youth on bullying, local non-profit organizations sharing the work they do to end bullying and a call to action.