j.k. livin Foundation Students 'UnMake' a Bully in 90 Seconds
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 19, 2014 -- The DON'T WAIT to UnMake a Bully program brings filmmaking to Matthew McConaughey’s just keep livin Foundation (j.k. livin) after school program at Ánimo Inglewood Charter High School in Inglewood, CA. Students write, produce, direct, star in, and film a 90-second anti-bullying public service announcement (PSA) based on their own bullying experiences.
“Until now, UnMake has been produced in a classroom setting during a typical school day, so we are trying something new and working with students who are volunteering two afternoons and a Saturday to tell their bullying stories,” says DON’T WAIT to UnMake a Bully Program Coordinator Lisa Bradshaw. “We are excited by the students’ enthusiasm to choose this stand against bullying.”
DON'T WAIT to UnMake a Bully is an anti-bullying program educating students grades 4-12 about bullying behavior and solutions while contributing to public service on a model movie set. Created by educator and award-winning filmmaker Mike Feurstein, UnMake relies entirely on student and staff participation to produce a succinct story. Whether it's cyberbullying, playground violence or cafeteria taunting, the students choose and produce the message and finish with a fully edited PSA and an education in bullying terms like bystander, upstander, and target.
“DON'T WAIT to UnMake a Bully is a great fit for our program because the project really layers on top of the work we're already doing by empowering our students to advocate for wellness in their school and communities,” says j.k. livin Operations Director Tobin Paap.
During class discussions in the days leading up to filming, students often admit to bullying or being bullied, sometimes moved to tears by their admissions.
“UnMake is taught in schools throughout the country, and it fulfills numerous Common Core standards,” says Feurstein. “But it's the changes we see in the students throughout the process of the program and the feedback we receive from students, teachers, and administrators long after we leave that makes the everyday difference in how students handle future bullying issues.”
DON'T WAIT to UnMake a Bully is a partnering program of The DON'T WAIT Project® and How to UnMake a Bully. The DON'T WAIT Project® is a non-profit corporation committed to raising community awareness about how positive life choices can impact the health and welfare of individuals, organizations and communities. For more information, please email [email protected].
j.k. livin Foundation is dedicated to empowering high school students to lead active lives and make healthy choices to become great men and women. Currently, the j.k. livin program is operating at high schools in Dallas, Austin, New Orleans and The Greater Los Angeles Area.
DON'T WAIT to UnMake a Bully - Behind-the-Scenes Footage
LISA BRADSHAW, The DON'T WAIT Project®, http://www.dontwaitproject.org, +1 (509) 881-9362, [email protected]
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