Chris Sakelarios - The Spectrum Magazine

RWC Youth Hold Rally to Halt Bullying
Curbing bullying can start by simply reaching out
— a message local teens emphasized during an
anti-bullying rally and concert at the Fox Theatre.
Started last year, the Young Dreamer Network
is a youth development program run by the
Redwood City–based nonprofit Dream Volunteers.
Working with local teens, the program focuses
on volunteer and leadership opportunities. Its
first big event will focus on a topic chosen by
the teens: bullying. Teen members of the Young
Dreamer Network hosted a concert and rally on
Oct. 24 for about 800 local middle school students
to launch an anti-bullying campaign.
“Bullying is very important in our lives right
now,” said 16-year-old Angelina Laus, a junior at
Summit Preparatory High School in Redwood City.
Laus added that all the teens in the Young
Dreamer Network could relate to having seen
bullying or being bullied. The event’s goal is
to stress the importance of sharing instances of
bullying with others, she said.
Sean Story, a 16-year-old sophomore at Everest
Public High School in Redwood City, added that
the group decided to focus on middle school students
since kids are often finding themselves and their
friends at that time. In addition, Story thought it
was an impressionable age during which, with the
right influences, negative habits could be changed.
Making a change, Story said, comes through
communication. Many programs separate the bully
and the person being bullied. Story believes the
two should work together to solve the problem.
“The rally is to bring about awareness and to
join forces,” said Story, who wanted middle school
kids to be empowered and feel good about themselves.
The event presentation included a challenge to
those in attendance to befriend those who may be
getting bullied. Bystanders, the teens explained,
are important. They have the power to befriend
those going through a difficult time or explain to
another why their actions are wrong.
While smaller efforts have been taken on by the
group, this is its first big event.
“Dream Volunteers empowers youths to be
difference makers,” said Dream Volunteers
Executive Director Brian Burtz.
The group meets weekly after school and began
“Dream Volunteers empowers youths to be
difference makers”
to brainstorm for an idea in the spring. Students
worked hard on the content while adults helped
with logistics. Getting the content led to partnerships
like working with a local company to make
documentary and public service announcement–
style videos that can be shown, said Burtz.
Sam Sobell, a 16-year-old junior from Summit,
described the concert as the beginning. The
group hopes to do more things to curb bullying
in the future. While there are no plans set, Sobell
mentioned training groups of students at different
schools with tools to deal with the problem. In
addition, Sobell encouraged parents to talk with
their kids about bullying.
“For kids, it can be hard to start the conversation,”
he said. “If parents start it, it could be easier.”
For more information about the Young Dreamer
Network, visit www.youngdreamernetwork.org.
Editor’s note: This article, written by Heather Murtagh,
appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper.
www.SpectrumMagazine.net