Bystander Revolution

Bystander Revolution
Founded 2014 in Seattle, Washington
Founder MacKenzie Bezos
Focus Bullying
Location
Method Bystander intervention
Slogan Take the Power out of Bullying
Website bystanderrevolution.org

Bystander Revolution is an anti-bullying organization founded by author and parent MacKenzie Bezos.[1] Its website launched on April 23, 2014.

Bystander Revolution differs from many other anti-bullying organizations in that it offers solutions for bystanders and bullies, in addition to the targets of bullying. Hundreds of unscripted videos featuring students, celebrities, and leaders sharing their advice and personal bullying experiences are included on its website. The power of small actions grounded in empathy is a theme throughout the videos.[2][3]

One of the means by which Bystander Revolution works to effect change is through Internet Activism, a modern trend among advocacy groups of leveraging social media for good.[4] In addition to sharing anti-bullying advice, inspirational quotes, and relevant news stories on its social media platforms, Bystander Revolution has launched such social media initiatives as the #1Act Challenge,[5] #BraverMe campaign, and the New Friend Challenge.[6]

History

Bystander Revolution was founded by author and parent MacKenzie Bezos to create a source of direct, peer-to-peer advice about practical things individuals can do to defuse bullying.[7]

The organization’s website was launched in April 2014 with seed content from dozens of students, celebrities, and leaders. More than three hundred unscripted short videos were included in the launch, addressing a wide variety of bullying problems and situations, each with a focus on the simple, but powerful, actions individuals can take to help.[8]

Contributors

Bystander Revolution crowd-sources its video content. Individuals share their bullying-related experiences, observations, and advice by submitting personal videos on the Bystander Revolution website.[9]

Video contributors include actors,[10][11] singers, musicians, professional and Olympic athletes, authors, experts on bullying, and others.

Ambassador Program

Youth Ambassador Program

Bystander Revolution’s Youth Ambassador Program a select group of young leaders who are committed to engaging their peers to encourage acts of kindness and inclusion. The Youth Ambassadors advise Bystander Revolution on its website and social media initiatives and are responsible for introducing campaign efforts over social media, in schools, and among fellow students. Ambassadors are selected for three-month rotations. Notable Youth Ambassadors include Carleigh O’Connell, whose story about standing up to her body-shaming bullies went viral in July 2014,[12] Shereen Pimentel, who was crowned Miss New Jersey Outstanding Teen 2015[13] on the pageant platform, "Words Hurt, Erase the Hate," and The Clive Brothers, Liam and Oliver, who host BullyBusters, an anti-bullying YouTube channel. Hannah Alper from CallMeHannah.ca was recently announced as Bystander Revolution's first Canadian Ambassador.[14]

Celebrity Ambassador Program

Lily Collins has served as an ambassador to Bystander Revolution since 2014.[15] On June 8, 2015, Bystander Revolution announced that Monica Lewinsky had joined the organization as an ambassador and strategic advisor.[16]

Events

On April 23, 2015, Lily Collins took the stage at We Day Seattle to represent Bystander Revolution and deliver a speech about the power of consistent, simple actions.[17] In addition to their stage presence, Bystander Revolution launched a new social media initiative called #standkind, a challenge to spread kindness online in the form of compliments on social media posts. [18]

Advisors

Advisors to Bystander Revolution include Dr. Dorothy Espelage, Professor of Child Development in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and co-editor of Bullying in North American Schools: A Social-Ecological Perspective on Prevention and Intervention and International Handbook of Bullying;[19] Gavin de Becker, expert on the prediction and management of violence and author of The Gift of Fear[20] and Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children & Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane);[21] Dr. James McGee,[22] recognized for the publication of The Classroom Avenger,[23] the first forensic study of rampage school shooting incidents across the United States, in which bullying was often a significant precipitating factor, and Director of Psychology and Director of Law Enforcement and Forensic Services at Sheppard Pratt Hospital until his retirement in 2001; Nicholas Carlisle, human rights attorney, psychotherapist, and Executive Director of No Bully,[24] a program facilitating change inside schools by enlisting small teams of students to create inclusive and protective solutions for targets of bullying; Dr. Philip Zimbardo, founder of the Heroic Imagination Project[25] and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Stanford University;[26] Richard Lieberman, coordinator of the Suicide Prevention Services of Los Angeles Unified School District,[27] co-author of School Crisis Prevention: the PREPaRE Model[28] and Best Practices in Suicide Intervention (IV, V & VI) for the National Association of School Psychologists, and Lead Consultant for the CalMHS Region 11 K-12 Student Mental Health Initiative for Los Angeles County Office of Education; and Dr. Roxana Marachi, Associate Professor of Education in the Lurie College of Education at San Jose State University.[29]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Caras, David. "Bystander Revolution stands up to bullying". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  2. ↑ Scheff, Sue (May 5, 2014). "Take the Power Out of Bullying: Bystander Revolution". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ Matthews, Cate (October 20, 2014). "What These Celebrities Have To Say About Bullying May Not Be What You're Expecting". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.techopedia.com/definition/27973/cyberactivism
  5. ↑ Conway, Darcie. "Why Putting Your Finger In Your Selfie Will Give You A Warm, Fuzzy Feeling Inside". Upworthy.com. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ Hart, Melissa Joan (October 4, 2014). "Had some late night fun with my new friend@anthonyanderson! He's part of my#BRnewFriendChallenge. Who's your new friend?". Instagram. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  7. ↑ Stewart, Alicia W. (July 18, 2014). "#IamJada: When abuse becomes a teen meme". CNN. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ Kielburger, Craig; Kielburger, Marc (November 23, 2014). "How To Channel Your Inner Superhero - No Spandex Required". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/bystander-revolution. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ Sauvalle, Julien (June 6, 2014). "Jared Leto Talks Bullying in French Magazine L'Optimum". OUT. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  11. ↑ Villamarin, Jenalyn (October 23, 2014). "Nina Dobrev: 'Vampire Diaries' Actress Joins Bystander Revolution Campaign Against Bullying". International Business Times. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  12. ↑ Hart Duerson, Meena (July 7, 2014). "Teen turns 'hurtful' graffiti into empowering body image message". Today.com. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  13. ↑ Pritchett, Kristina (January 11, 2015). "Miss New Jersey Outstanding Teen 2015, Shereen Pimentel, crowned during state competition". NJ.com. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  14. ↑ Alper, Hannah (June 15, 2015). "Stand Up to Bullying with Kindness". Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  15. ↑ Caras, David. "Bystander Revolution stands up to bullying". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  16. ↑ McNeil, Liz (June 8, 2015). "Monica Lewinsky: 'I Want to Help Other Victims of the Shame Game Survive and Thrive'". People. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  17. ↑ "RECAP: We Day Seattle 2015". Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Lily Collins Teams Up with Bystander Revolution to Change Student Perception About Bullying". Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Dorothy Espelage". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Gavin de Becker - The Gift of Fear". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Gavin de Becker - Protecting the Gift". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Dr. James McGee". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Classroom Avenger" (PDF). Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  24. ↑ "No Bully". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Heroic Imagination Project". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Philip Zimbardo, Department of Psychology, Stanford University". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Suicide Prevention Services of Los Angeles Unified School District". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  28. ↑ "School Crisis Prevention: the PREPaRE Model". Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Roxana Marachi, Ph.D.". Retrieved April 17, 2015.

External links

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