K-6th Graders Paws for CHANGE to Stop Bullying

(Snickers AKA "The Bully Buster" giving some Pet Therapy before the workshops!)

We had a great day in Flint at the Richfield Public School Academy on Friday! Lloyd Dockham (below in center), the Social Worker, as well as many other teachers and helpers, worked very hard along side us to put this anti-bullying rally together very quickly. And all the hard work paid off!

Students were so excited, very eager to participate, and upbeat and motivated throughout the whole presentation.

(pictured below 4th-6th graders)

(below K-3rd graders)

K-3 rd Graders Interact (below) with Puppets to display how we are all different, but yet alike. Two of the TAZ puppets look like identical twins, but if you look closely you can tell their eyes and tongue are just a little bit different. We teach kids to look for the likenesses, not the differences in others. 

Acceptance is Key to conquering bullying!

A very special 4th Grader, Alaina Griffith (pictured below), actually won these free anti-bullying workshops for her school, by entering a contest we had over the summer, sponsored by Big John Steak & Onion. Way to go Alaina!



These students (below) demonstrated how spreading rumors, giving someone the silent treatment, and/or whispering in front of others is really "social bullying" and can be hurtful. Words can heal or words can kill--please choose your words carefully!

These 4th-6th grade students (pictured below) participated in a group demonstration to prove that we may all look somewhat different, but we are more alike than we are different, and best of all, no matter what little differences we do have, we have the same value and worth!

These boys put on a little skit to demonstrate how you can bully someone by being a bystander or someone who just walks away.

This girl was embarrassed about making a silly face in front of everyone. We demonstrated how it would be even more embarrassing if I had taken a picture of her and sent it to all her friends, they sent it to all their friends, and pretty soon the whole world would know. We talked about Internet & Cell Phone Bullying, not to share personal information with others. 80% of cyber bullies think it's funny to hurt someone online! We share how facebook is really FAKEBOOK. Anyone can pretend to be any age, any sex, and can hurt us!

Students played an interactive game of Who Wants to Take The Bully Down to display what four options they each have in a bullying situation. What would you do? Fight Back, Call 9-1-1, Ask For Help, or Run Away... 

Students (below) also demonstrated how to "get rid of labels" that other people put on them. They are laughing at all the things that were posted on each others backs. But when this is done in real life, these labels are like daggers piercing the very heart and the mind of each child!

This was our bully today in a game of tug o war. Her against 6 others. Who do you think won? You do the math! It says that 1 out of 7 students are the bully. We teach the six others a more positive way to defeat the bully! We'd love to come to your school and next event to show you. 

Too many schools and communities are letting the bullies win! No! Let's teach kids how to defeat bullying for good!

Our formerly abuse, rescue dog, Snickers, AKA "The Bully Buster" sniffed out a bully, our other dog, Baby Ruth, (below), AKA "THE BULLY" (our worst dog). However, she has Changed her bullying behaviors. I was a bully too and changed. So we share our stories, and how bullying is simply a behavior not who a person is, and that anyone can change with the right help. This empowers all students (whether they are targets/victims, bystanders, or bullies) to make a change and be different--to be a Bully Buster!

 

Baby's outfit (below) reads "PAWS FOR CHANGE!"

Students all over the gym gave the "thumbs up" sign as a statement to say that they were going to change their actions and be the change in their school and community to stop bullying.

Thumbs up to you Richfield Public School Academy in Flint, Michigan, for making the Change and Being the Change to Stop Bullying! 

For more information on bringing the CHANGE to your school, upcoming event, church, or community, please contact Lisa Freeman or check out her website @ AbuseBites.com 

Written by: Lisa Freeman, Michigan Bully Expert

Lifelong Abuse Survivor & Advocate

CEO & Founder of Abuse Bites & A Time to Heal

The Healing Projects Specialist for the Bully Police USA

Award-Winning Author

AKC Dog Trainer & Certified Pet Therapist

Anti-Bullying Rally in Flint

We held an Anti-Bullying Rally in Flint yesterday!

Rocking the Violence Out Of Flint was amazing!

Ryan LoRee from Team Revelation Gym put the event together. He had talked to some people out at Walmart when we were doing our fundraising event there and that's when he got in touch with us about speaking and doing our Abuse Bites presentation. Anything to team up with others to stop abuse, bullying and violence! 

Together we can do this!

Ryan (above) founded Team Revelation a non-profit judo/wrestling type place to give free instructions and mentoring to troubled kids and youth! Kudos Ryan!

Ryan's two beautiful little girls fell in love our Yorkie, Lover.

This little boy stopped to play with Lover.

This boy's little sister was afraid of dogs...

At first she even turned her head away and wouldn't look at him...

But then I actually got her to play with Lover!

Great Things Happened All Day! And we met some really amazing people!

The Judge William Crawford (right) and a Respite Volunteer from a local shelter.

A lady & her daughter are entering our Free Book Drawing! We donated a whole box of books so that everyone who entered could win!

Judge Crawford stayed longer than he intended just to do the special honor of signing Brian's Memory Quilt! It was a very emotional moment!

The man behind the judge is making a documentary about this event.

We played some fun interactive games!

These Kids Learned How to FIGHT BACK to Stop Bullying!

Then I had the privilege of sharing "The Change Of Heart Program" in memory of my precious son, Brian. And I could not believe the results! People were coming up to me, one by one, telling me what a difference my speech made in their lives. WOW!

This young man came up after and confessed he had been a bully until the 8th grade, but had since asked forgiveness from his victims. He also explained that he often spent the night at his cousins house when he was younger and they would bully him and his brother, so he thought he had to fight like them to be cool. I gave him a hug and thanked him for sharing.

Another young man had a shirt on that said "I love Haters" and he was so loving, but said to me, "I shouldn't have worn this shirt probably to something like this." I said, "I love your shirt, and I love Haters too! With people like you and I they will learn to be Lovers!" And he gave me a hug! He works with the Reach program to help troubled youth.

A woman came up and thanked me. She said her husband wasn't going to attend the event at all, but at the last minute changed his mind. Later he told her, "I think I was meant to here this lady speak, it really touched my heart." This man had been bullied and abused his entire life!

Several others thanked me as well and were really happy about what we're doing.

But the grand finale and best part is when Jeremiah sang, "We Are The Body" by Casting Crowns. It's the first time in quite awhile he's sang in front of a crowd. 

Just to think, a month ago Jeremiah nearly committed suicide, but God spared him and is using him once again to change hearts and save lives! This is one proud mamma, excited about taking this message forth!

Thanks Ryan Loree, Team Revelation, and The Bridge Church for allowing us this great opportunity to present at your 1st Rocking the Violence Out of Flint Benefit! May we do even more awesome things together next year!

Written by: Lisa Freeman, CEO of AbuseBites.com, offering healing anti-bullying workshops to schools, workplaces, and communities. More Info