Contacts:
Maricela Jauregui, 714-567-7557, Maricela@splash.ochumanrelations.org
Eric Lam, 714-567-7402, eric@splash.ochumanrelations.org
July 10, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Santa Ana)—Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrate how widespread bullying has become in our nation’s schools. Nationwide more than one in five high school students reported being bullied at school and more than 16 percent reported that they had been bullied electronically.
With bullying and student harassment at an all-time high in our middle and high schools, student leaders from Orange County schools are preparing to learn how to take a more significant leadership role in creating safer, more inclusive and respectful learning environments where all students feel welcome and can succeed.
From August 6-10, student leaders from approximately 16 local high schools will attend Orange County Human Relations’ BRIDGES Youth Organizing Camp, a week-long program which brings together youth from diverse economic, social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to dialogue about human relations and social justice issues. Students will represent schools in Corona del Mar, Irvine, Garden Grove, Newport Beach, Anaheim, Westminster, Cypress, Huntington Beach, and Orange.
“The curriculum that will be shared at the BRIDGES Day Camp is based on Martin Luther King, Jr., Center’s Six Steps of Nonviolent Social Change,” said Eric Lam, Bridges Staff member. “We will have guest speakers who best model how the steps are implemented at their campuses. Students will go back to their schools ready to create campus-specific campaigns that address the needs of their particular school communities to benefit all students. Participants will be challenged to think about ways to reduce intergroup tensions and foster mutual understanding in order to make Orange County a better place for all people to live, work and do business.”
Students will learn how to organize their peers to take a stand against hate and violence and to combat prejudice while participating in fun hands-on activities, multi-media presentations, role playing , skill-building and outdoor activities.
When: Monday, August 6 to Friday, August, 10, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Rancho Santiago Community College District, 2323 N. Broadway, Room 107, Santa Ana
Editor’s Note: Tuesday, August 7, will be a particularly visual day at the camp as students will walk to nearby Santiago Park where team-building activities along with outdoor workshops will take place. Please notify OC Human Relations if you plan on attending the camp for additional details.
About OC Human Relations
OC Human Relations Council provides programs to foster mutual understanding among residents and eliminate prejudice, intolerance and discrimination in order to make Orange County a better place for ALL people to live, work and do business. Council initiatives include proactive leadership development and inter-ethnic relations programs in schools all over Orange County.
About BRIDGES
BRIDGES, an OC Human Relations program, is a multi-year program that improves inter-group relations by partnering with schools and communities to create, advocate for and sustain safe, inclusive and equitable campus climates that respect diversity. BRIDGES empowers members of the campus community to identify, investigate and address the human relations needs specific to their campus.
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