4:01pm | A local nonprofit is taking on the all-too-common practice of bullying through a new project being launched with a community forum later this month.
The Long Beach Community Business Network’s Stop the Bullying Project is fundamentally based on the idea that children have a right to safer schools and a supportive community. Calling it an “imperative” project, LBCBN is urging Long Beach businesses and residents to get involved.
“It will take all of us, doing what each of us can to create an influential program that improves our community,” said LBCBN President Stacey O’Byrne in a prepared statement.
The organization, which serves as the chamber of commerce for the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, is attempting to go above and beyond its historical role as a business-networking-based group with the new project, according to information provided by LBCBN’s Arlene Weinstock.
Founded in 1992, the nonprofit is the brainchild of several gay and lesbian business owners who created the group to support gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses. Since then, its membership has grown to now include businesses outside of the greater Long Beach area.
Some LBCBN members are already engaging in efforts to raise the community’s awareness about bullying.
The organization’s Facebook page features a posting by one of the members of its board of directors, Dr. James Proetz, of a YouTube.com video featuring an elected official in Texas sharing about how he was bullied as a teenager for being gay.
LBCBN is currently teaming with other area LGBT organizations, as well as local businesses and Long Beach residents, and is in the process of forming a committee comprised of stakeholders to identify the community’s needs, programs to address those needs and brainstorm projects for the anti-bullying project, Weinstock said.
The goals of the committee, which is being spearheaded by LBCBN, are to promote awareness of bullying, address family diversity, fight gender stereotyping and teaching both young and old effective ways to respond to bullying with a “Stop Picking on Me” campaign.
Volunteers are sought to participate in and contribute to the effort by offering ideas, skills, time and energy to the project committee.
Later this month the Stop the Bullying project kicks off wil a community meetingfeatuirng speakers who are already involved in other anti-bullying efforts. Attendees will also have the chance to share their ideas for the project during the open forum.
The kickoff event for the Stop the Bullying Project is being held during LBCBN’s regular monthly meeting and is set for Wednesday, April 20, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 200 S. Pine Ave. The organization is limiting attendance to 100 people, and all those who plan to attend are required to register by visiting LBCBN.com, where additional information can also be obtained.