Anti-Bullying Coalition to End Year Promoting Inclusion and Acceptance

Tomorrow night the Natick/MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition will hold their third annual meeting with a theme of "From Tolerate to Celebrate: A Community Event Celebrating Every Child For Who They Are."

This year's meeting will take place at the Community-Senior Center and will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.

"I'm excited it's at the Community-Senior Center because it's a community event," Coalition co-founder Christine Guthery said.

The event will feature representatives from many organizations in town that work with youth, including board members and coaches from youth sports leagues, religious leaders, scout leaders, dance teachers and many more. The keynote address will be given by Dr. Peter Sanchioni, Superintendent of Natick Public Schools, as well as Zachary Garafalo from Youth Power, Inc.

"It's about promoting inclusion, promoting empathy," Guthery said. "To be able to understand life, someone else's perspective, someone else's life."

There will be a panel discussion about how to promote inclusion from preschool to high school. Some of the topics to be discussed are a new Natick Youth Center, supporting children with special needs, promoting awareness of LGBTQ and understanding cultural and racial differences. Panelists include:

• Natick Police Chief James Hicks
• Rev. Ian Mevorach, Common Street Community Church
• Timothy Luff, Natick Public Schools Director of Special Education
• Holly McKean, President of Natick SEPAC
• Kate Milkosky, Advisor to the Gay-Straight Alliance at Natick High School
• Noah Foster, President, Gay-Straight Alliance at Natick High School
• Cathy Yun, Director of Community and International Programs at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts

During the panel discussion, two groups will break off and go to separate rooms.

A group of peer leaders from several different schools will have the opportunity to meet and have discussions on plans to start a youth center in Natick.

The other group will be made up of town sports leaders, such as board members from several Natick sports leagues. The idea behind this meeting will be to see what support they need for training coaches in bullying prevention and building sportsmanship and character.

"We want to hear what they want and we'll go forward in supporting them with what they need," Guthery said.

One other highlight of the evening will be when two elementary school students receive an award for their efforts promoting kindness.

Pre-registration is preferred, although not required, at this event. You can register here.

To learn more about the Natick/MetroWest Anti-Bullying Coalition and some of their future projects and initiatives, visit their website.