Events

Creating a Politics of Hope & Possibility

Co-sponsored by The Texas Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
and the Division of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
at the SMU Meadows School of the Arts.

For a conference overview and information on registration, go to www.txdop.com/.

STUDENTS SPEAK UP FOR SAFER SCHOOLS BY SAYING NOTHING AT ALL
Demonstration calls for an end to bullying of LGBT students

DALLAS – April 4, 2008 – Hundreds of thousands of students from over 5,000 middle schools, high schools and colleges will ban together in silence on April 25 in the largest student-led action in the country calling for an end to the bullying, harassment and name-calling endured by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students.
 Sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), participants in the National Day of Silence vow not to speak in an effort to bring attention to harassment – in effect, the silencing – experienced by LGBT students and their allies.  Rather than speaking, participants hand out “speaking cards” explaining their reasons for remaining silent throughout the day.
 In an effort to educate the community about school violence and the need for safe school policies that protect all youth, the Dallas chapter of GLSEN, in partnership with Youth First Texas, has organized over 20 Dallas and Ft. Worth community organizations to join with the Day of Silence student participants for the first ever Breaking the Silence Rally.
The event, designed to show support for schools that are free from violence and harassment, will be held at 7:00 p.m. on April 25 in Reverchon Park, located near the intersection of Maple and Oak Lawn in Dallas.
 “It is time that the entire community, gay and straight, stands up to make our schools safe for all students,” said Beau Heyen, co-chair of the Dallas chapter of GLSEN.  “Just imagine what it would be like for a student to go to school and actual be able to concentrate on what the teacher is saying, rather than the harassing comments of their peers.”
This year’s National Day of Silence will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old California student who was shot and killed at school in February by a 14-year-old classmate because of King’s sexual orientation and gender expression.
 The Day of Silence is an opportunity for students to take the initiative to teach one another about diversity, respect and safety for all students.  Students gain leadership skills, provide a valuable service to the school community and empower themselves by realizing their ability to make a difference in their school. 
For more information regarding the National Day of Silence visit dayofsilence.org.

Promoting the purchase of fair trade goods through Ten Thousand Villages, whose products provide a living wage for artisans in developing countries.