FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2014
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Ryan Mulholland, Sam Marksheid, and Rebecca Cheng | (516) 869-7794
Local Students and Town Officials Walk in Unity to Raise Bullying Awareness
Herricks, Wheatley, Carle Place, Mineola and Port Washington schools all take part
North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board welcomed more than 160 students, parents and community activists to the 2nd Annual Bullying Awareness Walk at North Hempstead Beach Park this past weekend. The day was full with motivational speeches, inspiring musical performances from local students, topical breakout sessions, and a unified walk around the park.
The program opened with Herricks High School students Disha Singh and Aeyla Gioia welcoming the crowd. Singh and Gioia teamed up with the Town a year ago for the First Bullying Awareness Walk and formed the anti-bullying group “Young Optimistic Upstanders”. They introduced Supervisor Bosworth who addressed the importance of making North Hempstead a “Bully Free Zone”.
“Bullying is not accepted in the Town of North Hempstead,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “We all need to be ‘upstanders’ who are empowered to stand up and say ‘no’ when a peer is being bullied.”
Singh spoke of the importance of the event and said, “Today gives us the opportunity to look for that one comfort, that one person you can speak to in a time of need.”
Several breakout sessions addressing issues such as relational aggression, warning signs of depression, and LGBT acceptance led by licensed social workers and psychologists, served to educated participants on how to deal with bullying.
Barbara Murphy-Schwaner of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County issued the keynote address and spoke of support groups that are necessary for those who have been bullied. “Intervention is needed and it should be a team effort,” she said. “Educators, parents and mental health professionals should all be involved.”
Other Town officials in attendance included Town Clerk Wayne Wink, Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman, and Councilman Peter Zuckerman. Other schools that participated included Wheatley, Carle Place, Port Washington, and Mineola.
Herricks High School students with Supervisor Bosworth, Councilman Zuckerman, Town Clerk Wink, and Roslyn School Board member Adam Haber (far right).
Group shot of the students and elected officials.
From left, Town Clerk Wink, Supervisor Bosworth, Ayela Gioia, Disha Singh, Barbara Murphy-Schwaner, Councilman Zuckerman and Receiver of Taxes Berman with Herricks High School students in front of the Bullying Awareness Pledge sign.