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Michigan PTA and The Children’s Center will host A Community Conversation on Bullying and Harassment on July 31st from 6pm-8pm at The Children’s Center, 79 W. Alexandrine, Detroit. The event will feature a panel of students, child advocates, and law enforcement officials. The panel discussion will be moderated by Nicole Wells-Stallworth, Director of Community Outreach and Governmental Affairs at The Children’s Center and Shaton Berry, President of the Michigan PTA. Audience participation will be heavily encouraged and a live Twitter feed from the event will be published using the hashtag #DONTBULLYKIDS. Questions and comments received from Twitter will be integrated into the event, allowing participation from all parts of the state.

Michigan’s anti-bullying law took effect in January, but problems persist.

“This event will continue the important discussions Michigan has already had about how to tackle bullying. This issue affects our homes, schools, and communities, and we need every person to commit to preventing bullying and protecting our children. The Call to Action developed at this event will represent the next step of our long journey toward ending harassment in our schools and neighborhoods,” said Michigan PTA President Shaton Berry.

“Protecting our children must be our number one concern. Whenever we have a chance to reexamine our efforts and engage communities in a discussion of how to make all students feel valued and safe, we must take it,” said Sandra York, Executive Director of Michigan PTA.

Panelists include:

Charles Boyd, Michigan PTA Student Representative
Catherine Criswell, Director, US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
Kate Diehl, Michigan PTA Student Representative
Kevin Epling, National Co-Director, Bully Police USA
Tonya Flemming-Fuller, Senior Programs Officer, The Children’s Center
Richard Gibson, Project Coordinator, Michigan Project for Informed Public Policy
Ralph Godbee, Chief, Detroit Police Department
Judith Levy, Assistant United States Attorney
Nusrat Ventimiglia, Program Outreach, Equality Michigan

The event and parking are free and the public is heavily encouraged to attend.