05/14/12 Fitness Forum at LifePlex will be hosting a Free Community Outreach on the topic of “Stop Bullying, Make a Positive Change” Tuesday May 15th from 6:30 -7:30pm. This presentation will be given by Milene Jeffirs, Psychologist and Bullying Specialist. She is Author of a relationship based program for adults, teens and children called: CONNECT – A BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM.
Bullying is a very serious problem. This type of behavior makes children feel hurt, scared, sick, lonely, ashamed and sad. Bullies will hit, kick, push or speak badly about another person. They can threaten, tease, put down, and intimidate their victims.
Bullies can also spread rumors about someone, take other children’s things, make fun of or exclude a classmate from the group. Some bullies will make their victims do things they don’t want to do.
Bullying is a huge problem that affects many children, teenagers and adults every day. One third of all kids say they have been bullied in their schools. Teasing and bullying will make children not want to play outside or go to school. It is very difficult to concentrate on your school work when you are worried about facing your bully the next day. Bullying upsets everyone and not only those children who are the victims. It affects families, educators, administrators. Bullying can turn schools into a scary place and it can cause violence and stress for everybody.
The misuse of power is the one factor that contributes to creating a hostile atmosphere in schools or workplaces, leaving people feeling worthless, scared and depressed.
As we go deeper into the 21st century and its technological upgrades, there seems to be a general lack of connection among people and most of us just try to survive the world taking on different roles. In an effort to fit in, children and adults end up relating to one another through their images and not through their hearts.
“CONNECT” is a relationship based program that helps children and adults to get to know each other by creating an affectionate atmosphere in the groups they belong to through activities that motivate for positive changes in their environment.
The program offers the unique opportunity for participants to share their dreams, challenges and life stories in a healthy, safe and honest way which will then bring groups together and eliminate aggressive behavior.
Through impacting and interactive activities, teenagers and adults can carefully explore the reasons why people isolate themselves from one another so that this process can be stopped and reverted to actions of positive change and attitudes of respect towards one another, their communities and the environment.
