Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying in Alexandria

Bullying is the most common form of violence in our society. More than 70 percent of young people nationwide say they have seen bullying in their schools, and 30 percent have admitted to bullying others.

Page updated on Oct 14, 2016 at 1:26 PM
Bully Free Starts With Me logo

What's New

October is National Bullying Prevention Month!
In recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month, Alexandria is hosting a series of activities through the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying.  The campaign works to raise awareness about how to identify, respond to, and prevent bullying.  During October, wear green and declare your support for a Bully-Free Alexandria. Mayor Allison Silberberg will issue a proclamation at City Council's meeting on Wednesday, October 5, at 7 p.m.  Additional activities include sports days, family nights, school and recreation center activities, a youth poster contest, a citywide Unity Day; and more. Participants at each activity will have the opportunity to pledge their support and receive information and resources on how they can help reduce bullying.

  • News Release
  • Bullying Prevention Poster
  • Unity Day:  On Friday, October 14, join Alexandrians of all ages in support of a Bully-Free city.  Wear green and post your photo on social media with #Green4BullyFree. More info.
  • All Sports Saturdays! Endorsed and supported by the RPCA Youth Sports Advisory Board, Alexandria Titans Youth Football, Alexandria Lacrosse Club, Alexandria Rugby Club, Alexandria Soccer Association, Alexandria Little League, Miracle League of Alexandria, and public and private high school athletic and booster clubs. Some field locations will have Bully Free banners, stickers and giveaways.
  • Calendar of Events: Download a schedule of National Bullying Prevention Month events and activities, or view the list below ("Upcoming Meetings and Events")
  • Poster Contest:  Calling all youth! Design a poster showing what you can do to prevent bullying and win prizes. Contest starts Monday, October 3.  Download the flyer to learn the details.
  • Take the Pledge!  Pledge your support for a Bully-Free Alexandria.  Email your completed forms to mac.slover@alexandriava.gov.

    Event Partners:

  • Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy
  • Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
  • 18th District Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court Service Unit
  • Alexandria City Public Schools
  • Alexandria Office of Communications and Public Information
  • Alexandria Sheriff's Department
  • Alexandria Police Department
  • Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria
  • Alexandria Health Department Teen Wellness Center
  • SAPCA

    "Bully Free Begins With Me" t-shirts donated by Christine Garner, Realtor

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Calendar Placeholder   

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. 

Bullying is the most common form of violence in our society. More than 70 percent of young people nationwide say they have seen bullying in their schools, and 30 percent have admitted to bullying others. According to data from the 2014 Youth Risk Behavior Survey in Alexandria, nearly 25 percent of eighth graders surveyed and more than 13 percent of 10th and 12th graders surveyed reported being bullied at school. 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.

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. According to national surveys, one in four teachers sees nothing wrong with bullying and is unlikely to intervene in a bullying incident.  Some adults consider bullying an acceptable "rite of passage."

A proclamation announced the start of the Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying in Alexandria. 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 joins more than 170 jurisdictions from around the country who have signed on to the campaign to raise awareness, foster a safe school climate, to end bullying in schools and communities, and to encourage everyone to  be aware of, and to take a stand against, bullying.

Photo Gallery


Bully Free Girls Summer Clinic Bully Free Girls Summer Clinic
Bully Free Girls Summer Clinic Miracle Baseball League of Alexandria (Adults Theraputic Recreation)


Bully Free Girls Summer Clinic Recreation Department Staff
City Council Proclamation City Council Proclamation

 

Team Court Service Unit Joins Bully Prevention Day at the Courthouse

Bullying Prevention in Alexandria City Public Schools

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 cybersafety.

Timeline and Accomplishments

  • July 2014 - Mayor Euille joins the U. S. Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying
  • August-September 2014 - Initial Planning
  • October 2014 - Mayor Euille Today" televised discussion:
  • Mayor's Charge to Community
  • October 20, 2014 - Campaign Kickoff: Screening of  "Bully" movie Mayor's Charge and Commitment Pledges

Stakeholders Meetings:

  • November 3, 2014 - Response to "Bully" Movie Commitment Pledge
  • Major Insights/Recommended Next Steps
  • December 8, 2014 - Defining Bullying/Sharing Personal Stories; Discuss Logo, Slogan, and Outreach
  • January - March 2015 - End Bullying Campaign shared with local coalitions and commissions.
  • March 17, 2015 - Campaign Marketing and Work Groups
  • March 24, 2015 - Campaign presented to City Council New Slogan: Bully Free Starts with Me! Logo Design: nearly complete
  • April 9, 2015 - Taping of "Mayor Euille Today" Campaign Update
  • April 25, 2015 - Earth Day Celebration – April 25, 2015
  • May 4, 2015 - First airing of "Mayor Euille Today" Campaign Update
  • May 4 and June 10, 2015 - Next Stakeholders Meetings
  • September-October 2015 - Bullying Prevention Month Poster Gallery

The Mayor's Campaign to End Bullying Planning Committee

  • Mac Slover 
    Chair, Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities

  • Mike Mackey 
    Past Chair – 18th District Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court Service Unit

  • William D. Euille
    Former Mayor

  • Marcia Jackson 
    Alexandria City Public Schools

  • Julie Crawford 
    Alexandria City Public Schools

  • Jeffery Carpenter 
    Alexandria City Public Schools

  • Sheri James
    Alexandria City Public Schools

  • William Chesley
    Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities 

  • Margaret Orlando
    Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities

  • Michael Johnson 
    Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities

  • Sheila Whiting
    Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities

  • Andrea Blackford
    Alexandria Office of Communications and Public Information

  • Joe Regotti
    Court Service Unit

  • Deputy Valarie Wright
    Alexandria Sheriff's Office          

  • Allen Lomex
    Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria

  • Angelica Garcia
    AHD Teen Wellness Center

  • Officer Bennie Evans
    Alexandria Police Department

  • Lisette Torres
    Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy 

  • Whitney Chao
    SAPCA

  • Fannie Allen
    Community Citizen

  • Gabriela Del Cid
    Peer Advisor & Student at T.C. Williams High School

  • Hadi Kamara
    Peer Advisor & Student at T.C. Williams High School

  • Janet Brown
    Alexandria Chapter of Rotary International  

Important Benchmarks

  • Student voice is leading many related efforts, including logo development, peer planning sessions, participation in the Mayor Euille Today show and participation in the Stakeholders Working Groups.
  • City agencies that work with youth and families are engaging this conversation.
  • ACPS FACE Center is sponsoring development of videos to address cyberbullying and conducting positive discipline training for families.
  • Specific outreach to the faith community is scheduled for late spring.
  • The Stakeholders marketed the "Bully Free Starts with Me!" campaign as part of the City's Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 25.
  • Adult advocacy to prevent and/or intervene with respect to bullying is increasing. Youth and adults are having many more conversations about the impact of bullying and the roles that witnesses /bystanders can play.
  • Groups are exploring such programs as Safe Schools Ambassador Delegation and Bully Free School.
  • Groups are exploring summer 2015 outreach to the business community.
  • In the words of our students:  
    • The "I will …" pledge is important and needs to be emphasized.
    • We need to think through the root causes for why students and/or adults do not intervene when they witness bullying.
    • This campaign will only work when we touch the heart, mind and soul of our community.
    • We need to make transforming our community culture a priority.
    • We need to address the speed with which cyberbullying does damage.
    • There needs to be a system of constructive consequences for bullying.
    • Everyone needs to own the responsibility of paying attention, preventing and intervening when bullying occurs.
    • Each one of us needs to answer the question, "What am I going to do?

Meeting Agendas, Materials & Presentations

More Information

To address concerns about bullying or to report a bullying incident, please inform your school's principal.

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.

For more information about the Campaign, contact Mac Slover at 703.746.5407.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at 703.746.3959.

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