Kids & Family

Mallory Grossman’s Mom To Speak On Bullying In Bloomfield

Grossman's 12-year-old daughter, Mallory, committed suicide in the family's Rockaway home.

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Municipal Alliance Committee (BMAC) and the Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services are sponsoring "An Evening with Dianne Grossman" on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Grossman’s 12-year-old daughter, Mallory, committed suicide in the family’s Rockaway home on June 14, 2017, after allegedly being relentlessly bullied by her classmates. Her family founded the nonprofit Mallory’s Army to prevent bullying and encourage kindness.

The free event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bloomfield Middle School, 60 Huck Road, and is appropriate for adults and children aged 10 and up. It’s the final session in a four-part series for parents on raising teens in the digital age, organizers stated.

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Grossman will speak on “How to Protect Your Family from 'Not My Child' Syndrome.'"

"School bullying is a problem that we must come together to fight, and that begins with honest conversation,” said Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia. “On Tuesday, Oct. 23, I hope to see many parents and middle and high school students come together in the spirit of Anti-Bullying Month to learn more about how we can do this together."

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“BMAC’s slogan is ‘Think Different, Think Prevention,’” said Maya Lordo, BMAC coordinator and assistant health officer for the Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services. “Hopefully, by shedding light on topics such as bullying, mental health and substance abuse, we can prevent a tragedy such as Mallory’s from ever occurring.”

Grossman's organization uses blue wristbands with Mallory Army's printed on them to promote awareness and action about the effects of bullying. The signature bracelets will be available at the event.

“I share my story in the hopes that we can ‘BLUE OUT’ bullying and make our world a better place,” Grossman said. “We believe wearing a small bracelet on our wrist reminds us to live a bracelet KIND of life — Mallory's mantra for life! We honor her by continuing to carry on with her mission."

For more information or to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mallorys-army-presentation-in-bloomfield-nj-tickets-50544363552 or contact Maya Lordo at mlordo@bloomfieldtwpnj.com or 973-680-4022.

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