Join us in living The Pledge 2012!

On October 1, we launched this newly designed website that welcomes individuals and organizations in four markets to take The Pledge.

This site provides information about bullying, links to helpful resources and participating media and a tracking system so that participating organizations can record their progress in taking The Pledge.

- We are asking all media in Thames Valley (Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin Counties), Barrie, Kitchener-Waterloo and Windsor to join us in Living The Pledge. We hope you will join us in encouraging all members of your audience to take a stand against bullying.

- Your organization may participate by creating at least one opportunity for all members of your workplace community to come together to take The Pledge to end bullying (recognizing that larger organizations may encourage departments/teams to take The Pledge in groups).

- Identify a Pledge Ambassador to take responsibility for the following:

• Track and report the number of members of your organization who take The Pledge. For example, if your organization holds a Town Hall meeting and asks everyone present to take The Pledge, the Ambassador can go to The Pledge website to report the number. Be sure to report if this number represents 100% participation at your organization!
• Identify members of your staff who could be profiled for media stories, i.e.:
  • Reformed bullies
  • Victims of bullies (as children or as adults)
  • “Upstanders” (who choose to stand up against bullying instead of standing by and watching inappropriate behaviour happen)
  • People who have worked to end bullying and aggressive behaviour, etc.

-  Share any creative ways that your organization brings people together to take The Pledge by posting stories and photos on the website or by providing them to the Committee to share with the media.

-   Join us in taking The Pledge at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 12 – the first day of Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (Nov. 12-16, 2012).

-  There are two versions of The Pledge – one for children and one for teenagers and adults – to be taken orally in schools, workplaces and at home. We hope members of your organization will come together to take The Pledge, expressing their commitment to not engage in bullying behaviour and to stand up for those who are bullied;

Teenagers and adults:

“I believe that everybody has the right to live in a community where they feel safe, included, valued and accepted regardless of differences. I pledge to be respectful of others and stand up against bullying whenever and wherever I see it.”

Children up to age 13:

“I believe that everybody has the right to feel safe, included, valued and accepted. I pledge to respect others and to stand up against and report bullying whenever and wherever I see it.”

-  Whenever possible, and if it would be helpful, we will provide a member of the Organizing Committee to come to your organization to explain the concept and lead everyone in taking The Pledge;