October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Join the movement!

The End of Bullying Begins with Me: that’s the message during PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month in October. It’s a time when communities can unite nationwide to raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities, outreach, and education. Resources from PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center make it easy to take action.

PACER created the campaign in 2006 with a one-week event which has now evolved into a month-long effort that encourages everyone to take an active role in the bullying prevention movement.

We have a variety of resources you can use during October — and throughout the year — to engage, educate, and inspire others to join the movement and prevent bullying where you live. Check out all of the different events and activities and make plans to get involved. Remember, the End of Bullying Begins With You!

Coming in October 2012:

Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying – Schools, businesses, organizations, and communities will come together to Run, Walk, Roll Against Bullying on Saturday, Oct. 6 in Bloomington, Minn., and at dozens of other locations around the country throughout the month. This fun, active outdoor event increases awareness of bullying prevention and raises funds to support the cause. We have all the tools you need to host a Run, Walk, Roll in your community. Check out PACER’s free toolkit which shows you how to plan the event in five easy steps and includes tips, ideas, and resources.

Unity Day: Wednesday, Oct. 10 – Mark your calendar now and make plans to wear orange on Unity Day. That’s when scores of people around the country will join the movement to “Make it Orange and Make it End!” In 2011, Ellen DeGeneres promoted the cause on television by wearing orange and reminding millions of viewers about the importance of bullying prevention. Facebook supports the cause during October by providing users with information on PACER activities on its safety, educator, and privacy pages. Again in 2012, students will wear orange and use PACER resources to support the cause, hand out orange “UNITY” ribbons at school, and write “UNITY” on their hands or binders. Be sure to ‘Attend’ and ‘Share’ the Unity Day Facebook Event!

New Student Event Toolkit
Need help planning a student-led bullying prevention event? PACER has partnered with Facebook to create a practical Student Event Toolkit that will make it easier to hold events in your school or community. This step-by-step guide will help you plan, promote, and execute a variety of events throughout the year using Facebook tools.
Take a look

Other exciting opportunities:

Whether you are an educator, student, family, or individual you can take an active role during the month, ideas include:

• Sign up as a National Partner (national organizations) or Champion Against Bullying(schools, local organizations)
• Add your name to the digital “The End of Bullying Begins With Me” petition
• Show your true colors on Unity Day.
  Wear the "OFFICIAL T-SHIRT" of National Bullying Prevention Month and support PACER.
• Pledge to "Choose Kind" the bullying prevention campaign inspired by the book, WONDER, the story of August Pullman, a boy born with a facial difference who attends school for the first time in fifth grade. During the month of October, Random House Children’s Books will donate $1 to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center for every pledge made.

• Talk with your local media about bullying prevention and the activities happening in your own community
• Order bullying prevention bookmarks
• Share your story, poem, artwork or video
• Coordinate a Unity Dance and come together in song and dance.

• Hold a community event
• Tell why “you care about bullying prevention”
• Spread the word on social media
• Use PACER’s creative classroom toolkits to raise awareness
• Visit the ACT section of TeensAgainstBullying

“The culture of bullying won’t end until people across the country take action and show kids that they care,” says Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. “National Bullying Prevention Month is a great opportunity to do that. This is a very real and painful issue that kids are facing but they don’t have to face it alone. Bullying can be prevented if we all work together to change the culture.”

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center provides creative and interactive resources that are designed to benefit all students, including students with disabilities. Middle and high school students can visit PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org and elementary school students PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org for additional ideas on how they can take action against bullying.