Karius & Associates and Clarity Strategic Host the First Annual 24 Hour Online "Bully Stake-Out"! Reaching out to both bullies and victims and offering support, connection and resources!
Anti-bullying groups to join forces via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube on November 9,2010 -- to spread information, music, stories and prayer for victims of bullying.
AKRON, OH, September 09, 2010
Anti-bullying groups will join forces via Facebook, Twitter (#24Stakeout) and YouTube on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, for a combination vigil and festival. The 24-Hour Bully Stake-Out, http://artist.to/stake-out, has the goals of drawing bullying victims away from isolation, helping bullies find new ways to communicate, and sharing a host of tools for parents, teachers, and friends of bullying victims, says Internet strategist Ron Graham of Akron, OH, one of the Stake-Out's organizers."We want to exploit the power of social media to show bullied kids and those who love them that thousands of people care. Facebook and Twitter are ideal for us to encourage folks who might otherwise simply wonder whether anyone has their back," Graham says.
The Stake-Out is attracting not only anti-bullying organizations, but others concerned about bullied kids throughout the United States and Canada. Musician Zach Friedhof and writers Kellie Ketcham and T. S. Bradshaw are among the first artists to share new creative works that reinforce the Stake-Out's cause, Graham says. John O'Brien, a bullying victim as a child who grew to bully others himself, has written his testimonial, to be shared both online and as hardcopy, and other similar works are expected.
"The stories we hear are endless. Children are harming themselves because of bullying, and are even being harmed in secondary fashion, like Matthew Bibby, who risked the busy rush hour road rather than the bullies and was killed by a car. There are many reasons we know we're needed," says Melville, SK social worker Kelly Karius, another of the Stake-Out's organizers and a writer of several anti-bullying reference materials and school curriculum guides. "We would like to see people all over the world participate online, and even organize real-world Stake-Outs locally."
Anyone interested in participating in the Stake-Out can contact Graham or Karius, visit the Stake-Out's Facebook page, http://artist.to/stake-out, or the Bully Outreach Project site, http://bullyoutreachproject.com/.
About Ron Graham:
Ron Graham has been working in social media since before the term was coined. He and his company, Clarity Strategic, develop Internet strategy, especially for small companies; he has also worked as an engineer and educator. Ron's website: http://www.claritystrategic.com
About Kelly Karius:
Kelly Karius is active in promoting well-being through strong communication and conflict management in the corporate world and within homes. Karius is the author of This is Out of Control! A Practical Guide to Managing Life's Conflicts and A Brief Book of Parenting - For Real Parents with Real Children, and No Such Thing as a Bully - A Program for Schools. Kelly's website: http://www.kariusandassociates.com