Often times people believe that bullies do what they do because they are bad people. That is rarely the case, bullies sometimes have been victims themselves and lack the coping skills necessary to deal with their issues in a health fashion.  Comedians Key and Peele examine this philosophy in a humorous fashion.

Greetings Allies! As you all know, the new school year is upon us; and Bullies Stink is excited to get back into the schools and having courageous conversation. But what we wanted to do today, is make sure that you know that Bullies Stink is finalizing our calendar so we can continue to bring you quality anti-bullying programming with a culturally inclusive message.  So, as promised, this is what we have been up to!

-Carolyn Strong, founder of Bullies Stink! will be the guest blogger for the we are gifted too blog; stay tuned for details!
-Bullies Stink radio will be returning to the airwaves just in time for bullying awareness month! Make sure that you tune in; thanks to the email, text and social media feedback; we have been able to tailor the show just for you...way to go Allies!
-We are in the final stages of finalizing our calendar for the 2013-2014 school! But in the meantime, you can catch Carolyn presenting at the Illinois Principals Association annual conference in Peoria, IL on October 22, 2013.
-We have some amazing things to update you about regarding our summer activities; and Carolyn has exciting news that she cannot wait to share with you!

                                                   Until next time, keep courageously conversing!

As school begins for some and approaches for others, I would like to take moment to address some issues that may have been filed away in an effort to enjoy the summer.  While students file into classrooms and pick up where they left off with their friends and classmates; there are other, more ominous relationships that will continue as well, the relationship between the bully and the bullied.  In the interest of making sure that we know what is going on with our children, we should understand the signs and symptoms of being bullied, along with strategies for intervention.

If a child is being bullied, they may not necessarily come right out and say so. It may be up to us as adults to read between the lines and figure out when a child is having an issue. This is also when knowing your child becomes essential. There is no laundry list of behaviors that I can give you that will symbolize that a child is being bullied; however there are some behaviors that may suggest there is a problem. However prior knowledge of the child’s disposition is always helpful. For example, one of the symptoms of bullying is a child becoming shy and with-drawn; if this is a part of the child’s personality already, it is probably nothing; if this demeanor is new, then it is probably a red flag. Below you will find a list of behaviors that may be associated with bullying; please use them wisely and take the child’s personality into account when applying them.

-child has become shy and withdrawn

-child no longer wants to attend school

-child has become fixated and begin to come home talking about one child’s treatment of them constantly.

-child may no longer enjoy things that they once enjoyed.

-sudden change in grades and/or school attendance.If you notice that your child is exhibiting these behaviors, please talk to the child and try to ascertain what may be going on. If you determine that further intervention is needed please seek help, and do not try to tackle the problem alone.

ane Addams (September 6, 1860 – May 21, 1935) was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace. Beside presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, she was the most prominent[1] reformer of the Progressive Era and helped turn the nation to issues of concern to mothers, such as the needs of children, public health, and world peace. She said that if women were to be responsible for cleaning up their communities and making them better places to live, they needed the vote to be effective in doing so. Addams became a role model for middle-class women who volunteered to uplift their communities. She is increasingly recognized as a member of the American pragmatistschool of philosophy.[2] In 1931 she became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Bullies Stink Difference maker of the day... Mayor Harold Washington

On this April 12th in 1983, Harold Washington was elected the 51st Mayor of Chicago. He was the first African-American to serve in that office.

Washington was born in the Bronzeville neighborhood in 1922. He attended DuSable High School, where he starred on the track team. After Army service in World War II, he earned a B.A. at Roosevelt and a law degree at Northwestern.

He got his political start working in Ralph Metcalfe’s 3rd Ward Democratic organization. In 1965 Washington was elected to the Illinois House. Though nominally part of the Chicago Machine, he often showed an independent streak.

Washington ran into some tax problems during the 1970s and serve a short jail sentence. However, his political rise continued. He was elected to the State Senate in 1976, and to Metcalfe’s old U.S. House seat in 1980.
A statue errected in Washington's memory at 47th and King Drive.
He had run for Mayor of Chicago in the 1977 special primary and come in a distant third. But in 1983 he saw his big chance. Mayor Jane Byrne was being challenged by States Attorney Richard M. Daley. Washington entered the contest. 

At first he seemed a long shot–in 1977, he had polled less than 20% of the vote. This time around, a registration drive added about 100,000 African-American voters to the rolls. And during the TV debate, Washington proved himself a thoughtful, articulate candidate.

In February Washington won the three-cornered Democratic primary with 37%. Most years that would have been the end of the story. Not in 1983.
A few of the old-guard Democrats mistrusted Washington because of his reform credentials. Most of them were simply not ready to have an African-American as Chicago’s mayor. The party chairman and many others swung their support behind the Republican candidate, Bernard Epton.

Epton was a State Rep with a long, liberal record on civil rights. But in 1983 he also saw his big chance. His campaign dug up every negative fact in Washington’s past and invented a few more. One of his slogans played on racist fears: “Vote Epton–Before It’s Too Late.”

Washington won anyway, with just under 52% of the vote. The next day, the Defender headline said it all: “Washington Wins, Dirtiest Election Is Over–Amen!”

After being elected to a second term, Harold Washington died in office in 1987. Two years later, Chicago's new central library was named for him.

Day 2 in our Difference Makers series. Today we pay tribute to Jonas Salk. Jonas Edward Salk (October 28, 1914 – June 23, 1995) was an American medical researcher and virologist, best known for his discovery and development of the first successful polio vaccine. He was born in New York City to Jewish parents. Although they had little formal education, his parents were determined to see their children succeed. While attending New York University School of Medicine, Salk stood out from his peers not just because of his academic prowess, but because he went into medical research instead of becoming a practicing physician.

I had the honor and the privilege of travelling to Orlando, Florida to participate in the National Conference on Bullying.  I must say that the conference was jammed pack with people that were there and willing to learn. It does my heart good to know that so many people are dedicated to the cause of eradicating bullying. In addition to being a participant in some sections, I had the opportunity to present two sessions of my own, "Black Girl Blues, An Examination of Intra Racial Bullying" and "Yo Momma So, the Dozens and Bullying Culture" Both sessions were jammed packed with people that were ready to get down to the business of helping kids and saving lives.  We were able to enlighten some and validate others about unspoken rules of being young in today's society. I cannot wait to do it again!

Until next time, keep courageously conversing

Carolyn