Community leaders gathered Thursday afternoon to discuss “Preventing Bullying and Reconnecting Our Youth” during a lunch forum at the Lone Tree Golf Course Event Center. Their goal was educate and find solutions to increase safety and keep students engaged.
Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for Northern California, gave the keynote address and providing some chilling statistics on bullying—including Antioch.
“We all know we can’t legislate or impose on anybody decency, respect, servility, empathy or kindness, but we can teach it and model it,” said Haag. “We can teach and encourage our young people to not be bystanders, to speak up to be up standers and not let bullying affect them, their friends, or their peers or anyone else in their schools or communities.”
She reported that in Antioch alone, 47 percent of seventh-graders, 45 percent of ninth-graders and 28 percent of 11th-graders now say they have been bullied within the AUSD. Meanwhile, 1-in-4 ninth graders reported being cyber bullied at least once in the past year.
Haag explained how “kids will be kids or boys will be boys” can no longer be the acceptable response and that real action is needed.
“Schools are a central key in ending youth violence; a healthy school climate provides a safe and nurturing place where young people can learn and thrive. Unfortunately bullying whether physical or verbal… it’s becoming and epidemic in schools. It shatters people’s sense of safety and security. Bullying has devastating and lasting effects on young people,” said Haag.
With the 24-hr pervasiveness of the internet and social media, Haag stated sometimes she wish the internet was never invented for the sake of her boys. The anonymousness of the internet allows for a level of cruelty far beyond the level of what someone may say or do.
“Bullying can lead to poor academic performance, depression, substance abuse and suicide,” said Haag. “Students who are fearful have difficultly learning and those who feel unsafe often choose to stay home rather than go to school. In turn, absentee, truancy and school failures are strong predictors of criminal behavior,” said Haag.
In 12 of 15 schools shooting in the 1990, the shooters themselves had a history of bullying. 42% of 7th graders reported at least 1 instance of bullying or harassment at school in California. San Mateo County had 46% percent followed by 44% in Contra Costa County.
Haag did state that “Antioch is ahead of the curve” when compared to the rest of the country in finding solutions towards bullying in our schools.
Antioch Mayor Wade Harper supports the Youth Intervention Network and the work they are doing.
“I want to congratulate the Youth Intervention Network on the function they put together today, I’ve been through the training and I know the hard work they are doing for the community to reconnect our youth and families so they are doing a great work,“ said Antioch Mayor Wade Harper.
Antioch Unified School District Superintendent Donald Gill shared his Districts work on trying to get more students engaged.
“Our efforts that when students attend school, that when they do attend school is that they are engaged. Our work at the Antioch School District around our youth learning initiative does just that. We find that students who attend our youth learning academy attend school on a more regular basis and have high grade point averages,” said Antioch Unified school District Superintendent Donald Gill. “We believe we are doing the work that YIN needs to have done on a regular basis to stem youth violence. So every day when I wake up I think we are doing the work YIN would want us to do to better our community,” said Antioch Unified school District Superintendent Donald Gill.
Supervisor Federal Glover was on hand and surprised the Youth Intervention network with a donation where he immediately received a big hug from Irish Archuleta as she ran across the room to the Supervisor with a big smile.
I was so shocked. And to think that it was the Supervisors birthday, but he came with the gift. What a wonderful surprise,” said Iris Archuleta.
The Supervisor was pleased to see the efforts of the organization begin to pay off with community support.
“Iris Archuleta came to me years ago with a vision, it’s great to see so many people have come to partner with YIN,” said Supervisor Federal Glover.
Meanwhile, Keith Archuleta spoke about the transformation and how their goal is to begin assisting with other communities in the future once funding allows them to do so.
“I’ve been with Iris Archuleta long enough to know that when she has a vision with something, I either need to help or get out of the way. I helped a little in the beginning, now I am helping a lot because I we want to continue,” said Keith Archuleta.
According to Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando, he stated that he is working to bring back school resource officers and work to talk about possible problems ahead of time in an informal setting noting if we don’t talk about it, it becomes stigma—referencing he wanted the stigma in order to make it an issue so it goes away.
The panel discussion consisted of Iris Archuleta (YIN Co-Founder/ Emerald HPC International), Stephanie Anello (AUSD Student Services), Allan Cantando (Antioch Police Chief) and Devorah Levine (Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violance).
2 comments
Great reporting, Mike! The only thing you missed that I think is important was Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for Northern CA, stated that because of YIN’s work in our community, Antioch is ahead of the curve on finding the solution to the problem of bullying in our schools!
Great job Youth Intervention Network, sounded like a good event. Melinda Haag sounds like a smart lady about not being able to legislate manners, however, we can educate.
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