National Bullying Prevention Month in Alexandria was recognized at the City Council legislative meeting on Tuesday, October 11 with the presentation of a proclamation by Mayor Justin Wilson. 

Check out weekly awareness and prevention tweets at @BullyFreeAlexVA (and post a photo wearing green, with the hashtag #BullyFreeStartsWithMe); get info from the Bully Free Brochure; wear green on Friday, October14, Unity Day on Advocacy ; and Alexandria City Public Schools students can participate in a Red Ribbon Campaign Poster Contest on bullying awareness. 

• During October—and every month, declare your support for a bully-free Alexandria! Pledge your support and receive information and resources on how you can help reduce bullying. For more information, contact Mac Slover, Chair, mac.slover29@outlook.com 

• National Bullying Prevention Month Proclamation 2022 

• Summary of Committee Activities, August 2021 (See Attached Updated Summary) 

• Cyberbullying Video
  

• Bullying Prevention Poster 

• Visit the Bully-Free Alexandria Twitter page—@BullyFreeAlexVA — wear green and post your photo with #BullyFreeStartsWithMe 

• Anti-Bullying Coloring Sheets — Bullying prevention messages for kids (and adults!) to color.   

The Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation. This year's theme is “Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free.” In partnership with the ACPS FACE Center, SCAN of Northern Virginia and the Mayor’s Campaign to End Bullying, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA), is excited to once again bring the campaign to Alexandria this year!  

It takes a community to teach prevention. How will you celebrate Red Ribbon Week, October 24-31 this fall? Visit the SAPCA website for tips and ideas, including information about this year's Red Ribbon Poster Contest! 

View a list of upcoming Bullying Prevention events.

Question?   What are the four types of bullying?  Verbal, Physical, Social & Cyberbullying

Since the inception of the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying in Alexandria in 2014, the City government agencies, City's public schools, community organizations, youth and senior citizen leaders and residents have worked together to increase the awareness of the negative effects of bullying and prevent bullying among Alexandria's youth and adults.

The Mayors Campaign to End Bullying is a national movement spearheaded by the National Conference of Mayor’s to improve the community and school climate and improve the quality of life for all. Alexandria (under former Mayor Euille) joined this effort in 2014.  Supported by former Mayor Silberberg, current Mayor Justin Wilson, past and present City Council members.  The bullying issue takes everyone to communicate in an open and on-blaming tone that is focused on building positive relationships and working together to support each other.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, bullying is defined as "any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma.  "Bullying" includes cyber bullying.  "Bullying" does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict. 

Nationally, 71% of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their schools, and more than 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year. Data from the 2017 Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that 13% of high school students reported being bullied on school property and 10% reported being bullied electronically. Of middle school students, 25% reported being bullied on school property and 13% reported being bullied online. Membership in either bully or victim groups is associated with dropping out of school, poor social development, criminal activity and other negative long-term consequences. 

Bullying affects everyone, from youth to older adults. Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ have experienced some form of  elder abuse.  As many as 1 in 5 senior citizens is the victim of verbal or physical abuse often by other seniors.  Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders who are abused each year. One study estimated that  only 1 in 14 cases of abuse are reported to authorities.  Abusers are both women and men. In almost  60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member.  Two-thirds of perpetrators are adult children or spouses.

A proclamation announced the start of the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying in Alexandria in 2014. The purpose of the campaign, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, is to wipe out bullying in our nation's schools and communities. Alexandria has joined more than 170 jurisdictions from around the country who have signed on to the campaign to raise awareness, foster a safe school climate,  end bullying in schools and communities, and encourage everyone to take a stand against bullying.

Since the inception of the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying in Alexandria, the City's public schools, City government agencies, community organizations, youth leaders and residents have worked together to increase the awareness of the negative effects of bullying and prevent bullying among Alexandria's youth.

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is strongly committed to creating a safe, positive school environment in which the academic performance, social, emotional and physical well-being of all students is supported. The ACPS Office of Equity and Cultural Competence, in conjunction with the Office of Student Services, provides programs and staff that promote healthy, caring, and responsible behaviors among students. Learn more about bullying and resources for bullying prevention and cyber safety.

• Mac Slover - Chair 
  Community Member 

• William D. Euille 
  Former Mayor - Community Member 

• Michael Johnson  
  Alexandria Department of Recreation  

• Sheri James 
  Alexandria City Public Schools  

• Shannon Hudson-Odoi 
  Alexandria City Public Schools 

• Percy White 
  Court Services Unit 

• Carlos F. Mendieta 
  Court Services Unit 

• Officer Bennie Evans  
  Alexandria Police Department  

• Allen Lomax 
  Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria  

• Lisette Torres  
  Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy  

• Fannie Allen 
  Community Member   

• Emma Beall 
  Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria 

• Marshall Hespe 
  Senior Services of Alexandria 

• Jamie Aylor 
  Alexandria Department of Recreation 

• David Nye 
  Alexandria Sheriff's Office 

• Ashley Battle 
  Alexandria Sheriff’s Department 

• Faith Spillman 
  Alexandria Police Department 

• The Bully Project: Take the pledge, join the movement! 

• Facing History: Excerpts from the Film Bully 

• Video: John Adams School – "No Bully Zone!" 

• Bullying Prevention - Alexandria City Public Schools  

• Presentation: Social Media and Kids: A Staff and Parent Training on Text Messaging, Social Media, and Cyber-Bullying 

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is strongly committed to creating a safe and positive school environment in which the academic performance and social, emotional and physical well-being of all students is supported. The ACPS Department of Student Services, Alternative Programs and Equity supports programs and staff that promote healthy, caring, and responsible behaviors among students.  

ACPS Web Site: Bullying Prevention - Alexandria City Public Schools  

To address concerns about bullying or to report a bullying incident, please contact ACPS Department of Student Services, Alternative Programs and Equity at 703-619-8036 

To report senior abuse, contact the Adult Protective Services 24 hours/day. All reports are anonymous. 703.746.5999  

Contact Alexandria Safe Place at 703.746.5400 for 24-hour access to immediate help and support for young people (ages 5-18) in crisis or call Michael Johnson at 703.746.5571. 

To report a life-threatening emergency or situation, please call 911.