A Chevy Camaro and Nike’s Nathan, 12 D’Mario, the 5’10” bully in our sixth grade class, struggled. I get it. He had two dads. His stepdad walked out on him. And D’Mario was really close to his stepdad. Since his stepdad liked cars, D’Mario liked cars. But I struggled too. Suicidal thoughts dogged me for…
By guest writer Brittany Costantini Maxie’s Story Maxie Noznesky was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade and has gone to five schools. But that has been the least of his struggles. At his first school, he struggled with getting along with other kids. But when he changed schools in sixth grade, the bullying really started.…
Trevor said, “Mom, I’m switching high school. Find me a new one.” Shocked, his mother, Tammy, said, “What?!” “Sorry, Mom, I’m not discussing it. Just find me a new high school.” Tammy’s son was a talented soccer player. He had been pulled up to the varsity team as a 10th grader. But because of the…
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can…Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can… Martin Luther King, Jr. Kindness matters. The paintings of the koi fish swimming against the strong currents in Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind depicts our struggles with difficult relationships. No one is immune from hate. The words “Stop bullying” don’t…
By guest writer Brittany Costantini Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind ArtPrize Eight has presented Pamela Alderman with an opportunity to feature a piece on bullying with the Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore playing a volunteer support role. In this interactive art piece, the center painting shows koi fish swimming against the current just…
After the suicide of Zoe Johnson, a West Michigan thirteen year old, a fellow student wrote on the victim’s Facebook page: “Good ur gone.” I don’t know all the details involved. But after listening to the news report on bullying, I felt compassion for Zoe’s mother and what must be her complete devastation by her…
A new series called Hometown Hero II has joined Reflections of Generosity—a traveling exhibit founded by veteran sergeant and artist Ron Kelsey to promote healing at military installations. Ron says: Some of our soldiers and their families are broken by war and prolonged separations and often face psychological and physically debilitating changes after service. The…