National Anti-Bullying Organization Celebrates First Anniversary And Launches New Awareness Program

Oct. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- FLORIDA – National Voices for Equality, Education, and Enlightenment (NVEEE) is proud to announce the launch of its ‘Not on My Watch’ Campaign, a one-year anti-bullying campaign commencing on the organization’s one-year anniversary, October 20, 2010.

Developed by NVEEE and its teen mentors, the ‘Not on My Watch’ Campaign and pledge is a part of the organization’s ongoing ‘Peace for a Day’ program asking communities students, teachers, community leaders, and politicians nationwide to get involved in the efforts to end school violence by not being a bystander.

“It’s bittersweet to celebrate our first anniversary, because it’s also a day of mourning for the teens we’ve lost due to recent suicides,” said Jowharah Sanders, Founder and President. “So as we celebrate their lives, we will also celebrate change, because from these tragedies has come a surge of awareness and public outpouring of support.   We are honored to be a part of the solution.”

The campaign features a t-shirt contest open to all South Florida students. The public service announcement and logo design contests are open to all students nationwide.

In addition to NVEEE’s ongoing outreach efforts, if you dine at any South Florida Chili's Grill & Bar Restaurant on Tuesday, October 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and present the promotional flyer, 10 percent of your bill supports NVEEE's anti-bullying campaigns. Such initiatives will have a direct and tangible effect in our local communities. You can download the flyer at: http://nveee.org/events/events-2/chilisgiveback

NVEEE is committed to making a difference in the lives of young people and their families.
The organization has developed several anti-bullying workshops and challenges in schools nationwide, established youth and support groups, grew its mentoring program, and established partnerships with local and national organizations with similar missions.

“If there is ever a time when I can say that I am proud of the work I do, now is that time. The teens we work with are proof that mentoring works,” said Sanders. “Although results are not guaranteed, it is definitely inspiring to witness their growth and watch them become agents of change in their school communities. If you would have told me that within our first year, we would have inspired two teens to run in a presidential election...let's just say, I would not have imagined it.”

Two of NVEEE's teen mentors, Jamia Barber, 13-years-old, and Brianna Spencer, 14-years-old, are running for class president in their Miami-Dade County middle schools.

"When I see kids being bullied it reminds me of what my mom taught me not to do, ‘You're not supposed to bully people,’” said Barber, “so I'm running for president of my class because NVEEE is teaching me how to be leader and not a follower.”

"I recently became a teen mentor, and helping teens like Josie Lou Ratley, inspired me to not be a bystander and to help as many kids as I possibly can,” said Spencer. “This is why I am running for president of my eighth grade class.”

Other students agree that NVEEE has inspired them to take an active stance against bullying in their schools.

“I started volunteering to get community service hours for high school because it is a requirement,” said Mercedes Perez, a 14-year-old student. “Now I volunteer because I love it. I have seen a lot of kids my age get bullied, but I never did anything to help them because I didn’t want to be a snitch. So now after working with kids who have been bullied, I feel bad because somebody like me didn’t stand up to help them. That’s why I’ve formed a ‘Not On My Watch’ committee, so teens like me can really do something to help end bullying. I am not a bully. I don’t get bullied. But now I stand up for people who do.”

To learn more about NVEEE, please visit our website: www.nveee.org.

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