Be a buddy, not a bully
Special to the Star-Telegram
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Every day thousands of children fake illness or come up with some other excuse to stay home from school in order to avoid bullies.
“Bullying is a huge problem for kids, not just in the United States but around the world. Bullying is not appropriate, not OK and we all have to work together on this problem,” said Christopher Bianez, president of Strengthen Our Youth Foundation, Inc.
And it’s exactly the type of problem that Bianez and Lindy Privett, vice president of the foundation, tackle year round at schools in the Fort Worth-Dallas Metroplex and beyond.
With EnCana Oil and Gas (USA) Inc. as their sponsor, Strengthen Our Youth, a non-profit organization started by Privett and Bianez in 2002, educates and inspires youth to live safe, drug-free and violent-free lives and be contributing members of their communities. Their lesson topics include: Be Buddies Not Bullies, Choices and Consequences, Stranger Danger, and Cornerstones of Character.
Their program about bullying is by far the number one choice for schools.
“We did over 128 programs last year. Probably 40 were anti-drug, six were on character and the rest were on bullying. It was definitely the most requested one. There’s a great need for it,” Bianez said.
Bianez and Privett try to fill that need with what they call “High Flying Excitement and a Knockout Message.” In “Be Buddies Not Bullies,” their message covers the ABCs of Bullying:
Attitude of Respect – You should show others the same respect you would like to receive.
Behavior of a Buddy – You should behave like a buddy, not a bully.
Commitment to Stop Bullying – You should be committed to not bully others; not allow yourselves to be bullied; and if you witness a bullying incident, report it immediately to a trusted adult.
“It all comes down to the Golden Rule which simply says treat others as you would like to be treated,” Bianez said.
That’s where the “High Flying Excitement” part of the program comes in as Privett and Bianez combine comedic and action-packed skits, stunts and routines with the anti-bullying lesson like martial arts demos that Privett performs and trampoline acrobatics that Bianez does much to the delight of the kids.
Deborah West, community relations advisor for EnCana, which has sponsored Strengthen Our Youth for three years, has attended many of the programs and said the kids’ cheers are almost deafening when Privett blazes through martial arts routines and demonstrates weaponry like Bo staffs, Sais and Samurai swords or when Bianez performs flips, jumps and leaps all the way up to the school gymnasium rafters.
“It is very inspirational and exciting to watch and it has brought home how influential and helpful such programs can be. Their dedication to young people is inspiring and we’re proud to be a part of it,” West said.
All the more inspiring when you learn that Privett and Bianez do these programs during their off-hours from their full-time police officer duties with the Plano Police Department.
He noted that without EnCana’s sponsorship, a lot of schools wouldn’t get the Strengthen Our Youth programs.
“Many schools are so grateful for EnCana because the schools don’t have the money for this. We are so thankful to have this partnership with EnCana and spread this message. We wouldn’t be able to go to as many places without their sponsorship,” he said.
