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| Ty Smalley |
Ty's parents Kirk and Laura have made it their mission to stop this epidemic of bullying, and they're taking action through STAND FOR THE SILENT.
I was fortunate to attend Kirk's assembly program at a Los Angeles Middle School this week. It was powerful, and wrenching.
Kirk had the kids on his side, supporting him as he told the story of his son, and of other children like Ty who took their own lives because of bullying.
He asked for a show of hands, who there had ever been bullied. Every single person raised their hand.
He asked for another show of hands, who there had even been a bully. Four hands went up.
He told us that every seven seconds, someone is bullied in our world.
There's work to do.
And then, he got the entire auditorium of 800 plus students to take this pledge out loud:
"From this day forward I promise to respect those around me as well as respect myself. I am somebody, and I can make a difference. I can make another feel loved. I can be the helping hand that leads another back to a path of hope and aspiration. I will not stand silent as others try to spread hatred through my community. Instead, I pledge to lift up these victims, and show them that their life matters. I will be the change, because I am somebody."
It was such a powerful moment.
Kirk spoke with passion and deep emotion, and I cheer him on. We need all our voices raised to empower children and teens to stop bullying and make their world - our world - better.
Here's a CNN story on Kirk - and in it you can see how raw and honest he's able to be about his loss, and the promise he made to his son on the Father's Day after Ty's death, that he'd stop this from happening to another child.
So let's do it. Let's stand with Kirk. And let's Stand For The Silent.
Let's each of us do everything we can to end bullying.
Namaste,
Lee
