witf

Radio Smart Talk: SEC charges Harrisburg with misleading investors; cyberbullying

2013-05-06T20:38:52Z

Radio Smart Talk for Tuesday, May 7:

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is accusing the City of Harrisburg of fraud for misleading bond investors. The SEC says Harrisburg made misleading statements in a budget report, financial statements, and a "state-of-the-city" address. According to a release from the SEC, most of the violations occurred during the administration of former Mayor Stephen Reed.

It is the first time a municipality has been charged with fraud for misleading investors.

On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, Tara Leo Auchey of Today's the Day Harrisburg will provide context of what happened and of a reported settlement between the city and SEC.

Tara Leo Auchey

Also, witf's Pushed Around project on bullying continues with a focus on cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying is defined as utilizing technology to repeatedly post hurtful comments, photos, rumors, or threats on social networks or through emails and text messages.

The mental anguish can be just as great for the targets of cyber bullying than it is of those who are victimized by traditional bullying.

Appearing on the program will be Craig LeCadre, Senior Supervisory Special Agent in Education and Outreach with the Bureau of Special Investigations at the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office and Mike Bookser, Emergency Planning and Response Management Coordinator with the Center for Safe Schools.

Mike Bookser & Craig LaCadre

Download the Pennsylvania Bullying Prevention Toolkit produced by the Center for Safe Schools. It's a tool that can help parents, educators and professionals serving youth to prevent bullying and support children affected by it. Download the toolkit.

witf’s Pushed Around project…in partnership with the Byrnes Health Education Center and Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital…presents “I Got Your Back”-- a free workshop for parents on bullying. Designed for adults…the program defines types of bullying … explores myths…and identifies the signs. Next Monday May 13th at 6pm the witf Public Media Center in Harrisburg. Registration and more information at witf (dot) org (slash) bullying.

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Join us for advance screening of Arthur's new bullying episodes

2013-05-02T15:36:56Z

Arthur, television's longest-running children's animated series, is kicking off its spring season with a week of all-new episodes, including two devoted to the issue of bullying. Please join us on Friday, May 3 at 12 p.m. EST for an exclusive screening of those episodes with Carol Greenwald, Senior Executive Producer for WGBH Children's Programming, and Ed Bowers, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor for the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University.

You'll have the opportunity to get a special preview of these topical episodes, ask questions of Carol and Ed, and engage in conversation with others about this important topic. We're hoping that this screening will prepare you to watch and discuss the episodes with your kids on May 6 and 10 at 3:30 p.m. on witf, and have a conversation about bullying.

We will be screening "The Last Tough Customer" and "So Funny I Forgot to Laugh."

Click here to join the screening.

About the panelists:

Carol Greenwald, Senior Executive Producer

Carol Greenwald is Senior Executive Producer of Children's Programs at WGBH Boston, where she has produced some of the best-loved children's shows on television. Carol has been honored with four Emmys (for Arthur and Curious George) and a George Foster Peabody award (for Arthur). But as a mother of two, she is proudest of the commendations that recognize her commitment to reaching, and teaching, children.

Ed Bowers, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor

Ed is an Assistant Research Professor at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development. Ed received both B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!) and a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College. Ed has experience teaching and working with students from the preschool to the graduate level, both in the U.S. and abroad. His research focuses on the influence of non-parental caregivers on the life skills development of adolescents.

Pushed Around: Workplace bullying

2013-05-02T09:35:48Z

(Undated) -- Cases of cyberbullying among teenagers and bullying at school are gaining more attention these days.

But bullying doesn’t necessarily end when students graduate from high school or college.

As part of our multimedia, Pushed Around project, witf’s Megan Lello takes a look at workplace bullying:

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New Arthur episodes take on issue of bullying

2013-04-29T12:17:35Z

Five new episodes of Arthur are coming this May. Kicking off the week on Monday, May 6 at 3:30 p.m. is "The Last Tough Customer," one of two new episodes taking on the issue of bullying.

In "The Last Tough Customer" episode, the Tough Customers realize it’s time to quit bullying and set out to find a new hobby – but can Molly ever truly change her ways? Watch a preview below:

The second episode on bullying, "So Funny I Forgot to Laugh," premieres on May 10 at 3:30 p.m. In this episode, Arthur thinks his jokes about Sue Ellen’s new sweater are all in good fun but Sue Ellen’s feelings are hurt. Has Arthur become...a bully?

Here are some resources from PBS Parent to help you talk to your kids or students about the issue of bullying.

Video: Pushed Around community forum on bullying

2013-04-26T13:10:06Z

On April 25, witf aired a public forum on childhood and teen bullying, cyber bullying and bullying in the workplace as part of our Pushed Around series.

The forum features witf’s award-winning TV Smart Talk host Nell McCormack Abom as moderator, a panel of experts with ideas on how to cope with and prevent bullying in all its forms, and thoughtful conversation with our audience members.

Watch the forum in the video below.

Our panel of experts includes:

• Dr. Cheryl Dellasega, , a professor of Humanities in the College of Medicine and a professor of Women's Studies at the Penn State University. She has written several books on issues surrounding bullying.
• Marguerite Ferrara, Assistant Director of Education/Community Development at Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center
• Jesse Gantt, founder of Foundation for Hope, a community outreach program created to raise awareness of harmful realities of bullying
• Dr. Victoria Johnson, State Coordinator of the Pennsylvanians for a Healthy Workplace Bill supported by the Workplace Bullying Institute
• Solomon Krevsky, a lawyer with Clark & Krevsky Attorneys at Law in Harrisburg
• Craig LeCadre, Sr. Supervisory Special Agent for PA Office of Attorney General
• Charles Mazzitti, Chief Financial Officer for Mazzitti & Sullivan Counseling Services, Inc.
• Dr. Stacie Molnar-Main, Ed.D., Strategic Initiatives Manager at Center for Schools and Communities and Center for Safe School

Follow our complete coverage of bullying online at http://www.witf.org/bullying/. Tell us about your experience with bullying here.

Pushed Around is supported by Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

House mulls anti-bullying policies

2013-04-26T13:01:14Z

State House lawmakers are struggling to find a way to help schools deal with bullying among school-age children.

At a House Education Committee hearing Thursday, Rep. Dan Truitt (R-Chester) said he's not sure schools are taking bullying seriously, given the way they're responding to existing state mandates.

"Our current state law requires school districts to report incidents of bullying to the state just in terms of the numbers, how many incidents they had," said Truitt. "And a number of them, about 200 school districts, report none at all."

Truitt has proposed legislation to require districts to develop more comprehensive plans to respond to cases of bullying.

A number of educators said they're uneasy about implementing such policies without the state setting down clear guidelines, but when asked how best to define bullying so as to prevent selective enforcement or encroaching on free speech, many testifiers were at a loss for a clear answer.

One advocate from a group representing parents of children with disabilities said bullying should be defined by what "hurts and harms."

TV Smart Talk--Pushed Around: A Community Forum on Bullying

2013-04-24T20:20:25Z

On March 28, 2013, witf hosted a public forum on childhood and teen bullying, cyber bullying and bullying in the workplace as part of our Pushed Around series. witf TV will air the forum on bullying on April 25 at 8 p.m.

Our panel of experts includes:

Watch a preview of the program below.

Follow our complete coverage of bullying online at http://www.witf.org/bullying/. Tell us about your experience with bullying here.

Pushed Around is supported by Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

Radio Smart Talk: Pushed Around project on bullying -- bullying based on sexual orientation

2013-04-24T18:29:01Z

Radio Smart Talk for Thursday, April 25:

Recent polls have found that a little more than half of Pennsylvanians support same-sex marriage. Most of the same surveys indicated only about a third favored it five to seven years ago. It's a trend that is consistent with what Americans are saying nationally.

For those in the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender communities, that acceptance is a reason for optimism.

That's why it is so striking to see the statistics on bullying based on sexual orientation.

According to statistics compiled by the Hazelden Foundation, about 93% of teenagers hear derogatory words about sexual orientation at least once in a while. Often, that takes the form of one teen calling another one gay or referring to something as gay, and they don't mean it in a positive way.

Meanwhile, 78% of gay or believed to be gay teenagers are teased or bullied in their schools and communities -- figures much higher than for heterosexual teens.

One-fifth of LGBT students have stayed home from school in the last month for safety concerns.

witf's Pushed Around project on bullying continues on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk with a discussion on bullying based on one's perceived sexual orientation.

Appearing on the program will be Jesse Gantt, Founder and CEO of The Foundation for Hope and Louis Marven, Executive Director of the LGBT Center of Central PA in Harrisburg.

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Jesse Gantt, Founder and CEO of The Foundation for Hope and Louis Marven, Director of Education and Youth Services at the LGBT Center Coalition of Central PA in Harrisburg

I Got Your Back: Workshops on bullying for parents

2013-04-19T16:17:41Z

In conjunction with witf's Pushed Around series on bullying, witf and the Byrnes Health Education Center have scheduled workshops for parents in York, Hershey and Harrisburg.

These adults-only programs are designed to define bullying and all of its types, explore myths and identify the signs. With guidance from expert advisor, Marguerite Ferrara, the program will provide parents with the tools they need to help protect their children.

Marguerite Ferrara is Assistant Director of Education at the Byrnes Health Education Center in York. She is responsible for teaching and developing programs for youth as well as adults. In keeping with the Center’s mission of educating and inspiring people of all ages to make healthy choices, the organization’s character education and anti-bullying programs were developed as a direct result of requests for information from teachers and parents in the community. Ferrara is a graduate of Rowan University with a degree in Health and Physical Education K-12.

These workshops are free, but you must RSVP online in order to attend. You may also reserve your seat by calling  1-717-704-3000. The program normally lasts about an hour.

The workshops will be held:

May 1, 2013 at 6 p.m.  at the Byrnes Health Education Center 
515 S George Street 
York, PA 17401  
The RSVP deadline for this location is April 28

May 13, 2013 at 6 p.m.  at witf Public Media Center 

4801 Lindle Road  Harrisburg, PA 17111  
The RSVP deadline for this location is May 10

RSVP for the location of your choice now.

Have you or a loved one experienced bullying? Share your story with us here.

Pushed Around is supported by Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

First Annual HopeSummit: A Symposium on Bullying

2013-04-16T17:20:17Z

The Foundation for Hope is hosting the First Annual HopeSummit: A Symposium on Bullying on May 11, 2013 at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, Pa. This event is free and open to the public. The Foundation for Hope is a community outreach program created to raise awareness of the harmful realities of bullying, depression and suicide.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

12-12:30 p.m. - Registration and welcome at Midtown Scholar
12:30-4 p.m. - Speakers and presentations at Midtown Scholar
4:30-6 p.m. - Panel discussion at main stage of Midtown Scholar
6-7:30 p.m. - Screening of "Out In The Silence" at main stage of Midtown Scholar
6-9 p.m. - Meet and Greet at LGBT Community Center of Central PA next door

The Meet and Greet will be an opportunity to ask follow-up questions or engage in conversation with the speakers, panelists and organizers of the event. Food and beverage will be provided.

The Midtown Scholar Bookstore is located at 1302 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102. Email events@midtownscholar.com or call 717-236-1680 for more information.

Have you or a loved one experienced bullying? Share your story with us here.

Pushed Around is supported by Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

Today Show: Dad's anti-bullying plea goes viral

2013-04-15T14:19:40Z

When Matthew Bent’s son, Shiloh, confided that he was being bullied, Matthew took a unique approach, posting an anti-bullying message on Facebook saying “I stand behind my son.”

He and Shiloh talk about the message, which has since been liked or shared at least 900,000 times on the clip from the Today Show below.

Video: 'After I'm Gone' takes haunting look at teen suicide

2013-04-12T13:37:10Z

"After I’m Gone," from the Maple Avenue series, takes a haunting look at teen suicide from the perspective of Cari, a young girl who appears to have taken her life due to relentless bullying from her peers and abuse from her parents. As Cari observes life from the other side, she meets Christine, an older more rebellious spirit, who reluctantly acts as her guide and confidante. Together they observe Michael, an artist friend of Cari’s, who has also been the victim of bullying and abusive parents. As a desperate Michael begins to contemplate suicide, a helpless Cari is suddenly forced to revisit her own nightmares... and find a way home.

Watch the episode below.

Visit our complete coverage on bullying at http://www.witf.org/bullying/.

Have you or a loved one experienced bullying? Share your story with us here.

Pushed Around is supported by Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

Special TV lineup features programming on bullying in schools and workplace

2013-04-05T14:39:08Z

As part of our Pushed Around series on bullying, witf will be presenting a special lineup of TV programming on bullying on April 14, 2013. Below is the schedule.

4 p.m. - Living Smart: Standing up to Workplace Bullies

Craig Clayton is the Director and Diversity Strategist with the University of Houston's International Institute for Diversity and Cross Cultural Management. He is a diversity and corporate culture consultant to a long list of corporate clients. He is also a seasoned public speaker on diversity, leadership and management issues. Over time, he's noticed one of the most difficult problems facing employees and businesses is workplace and corporate bullying.

4:30 p.m. – Not in Our Towns: Class Actions

This program features three stories of students and their communities standing together to stop hate and bullying. Fifty years after James Meredith became the first black student at the segregated University of Mississippi, football fans revive the chant “The South will rise again.” Student leaders confront the divisive practice, sparking a campus visit from the Ku Klux Klan. The college town of Bloomington, Indiana, shocked after a Korean student was murdered by a white supremacist a decade ago, bands together again after anti-Semitic attacks on the eve of Hanukkah. In Lancaster, a city east of Los Angeles, a middle school counselor starts an anti-bullying program that inspires a citywide campaign after teen suicides in nearby towns shake the town into action.

Watch a preview below:

5 p.m. – Not in Our Towns: Light in the Darkness

In Patchogue, New York, an ethnically diverse working-class village in Suffolk County, a series of attacks against Latino residents ended with the killing of an Ecuadoran immigrant who had lived in the village for 13 years. Seven local high school students arrested for the crime admitted they were “looking for a Mexican” to beat up. Over a two-year period, the film follows the Patchogue mayor as he leads a group of residents to confront the anti-immigrant bias in their town and repair the fabric of community life. Latino residents become leading voices for immigrants while working within the community to address local divisions; faith leaders mobilize their congregations; and educators and school administrators develop anti-bias programs. The film provides a message of hope, as civic leaders, students, grandmothers, librarians and store owners take action to repair a culture that has been torn apart by bigotry and fear.

Watch the trailer below:

Have you or a loved one experienced bullying? Share your story with us here.

Pushed Around is supported by Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

PBS Newshour: Anti-bullying lessons with the Bard

2013-04-04T13:10:57Z

Last night, PBS Newshour profiled the collaborative effort of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and the University of Colorado Boulder's Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence that uses the lessons from centuries-old literature to prevent teen and pre-teen violence.

Watch the piece below.

Watch Anti-Bullying Lessons with the Bard on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Follow our complete coverage of bullying online at http://www.witf.org/bullying/. Tell us about your experience with bullying here.

Pushed Around is supported by Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

Submit the Documentary

2013-04-02T17:30:00Z

Photo by www.submitthedocumentary.com

Bullying used to be something that was a face-to-face confrontation. These days, it's extended into online barrages of tweets, Facebook posts and websites. And this new arena for bullying is one that kids have inhabited while most parents know very little about it.

"You have...kind of a wild west in terms of the behavoir that goes on online," says Les Ottolenghi, co-producer of "Submit the Documentary". Les wanted to make this film when he heard about a young boy who hung himself after being bullied both off and online. He thought about his own son and what he could do to help find solutions so something like that would never happen again.

Citing the possibility to bully anonymously online, "Submit the Documentary" reveals that not only are more kids likely to participate in bullying when they can remain anonymous, but in fact the depth and breadth of the bullying increases dramatically.

"Submit the Documentary" is made available for public and private screenings via request on the film's website. "What we think about social good is that you shouldn't have to wait for it to come to a theater near you," says Les. "You should be able to demand it and then take action in your own life."

http://www.submitthedocumentary.com/

Listen to the feature:

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