Milwaukee Industry Leaders Unite Against Bullying
Quarles & Brady, Children's Hospital, and First Stage Children's Theater Sponsor Unity Day Event to Prevent Bullying
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that on Wednesday, October 21, it will partner with Children's Hospital and First Stage Children's Theater to help educate fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School on preventing and stopping bullying. Dr. Darienne Driver, superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), also will be in attendance.
The event, which begins at 8:30 a.m., will feature an anti-bullying skit—commissioned by Quarles & Brady exclusively for this event—by First Stage Children's Theater, along with a skit presented by Ben Franklin School fourth graders. Students will receive orange bracelets to reinforce the anti-bullying messages they will hear during the event. Finally, students will participate in an anti-bullying door decorating contest.
Dr. Driver will help Quarles & Brady present a Buddy Bench to the school to help continue its efforts to be a "bully-free zone." The Buddy Bench, which will be painted in the school's colors, will help foster friendships on the playground by providing kids with a tool to let their peers know that they want someone to play with. If a child is feeling lonely or left out, sitting on the Buddy Bench encourages their classmates to ask them to join in on the fun.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and October 21 marks Unity Day, when supporters wear orange to promote acceptance and inclusion, and to support anti-bullying efforts. This is the third year the firm, through its Quarles Cares community service program, has focused on anti-bullying as one of its national efforts across all of its 10 offices, and the second year the firm's Milwaukee office has worked with the students and staff at Benjamin Franklin.
"Bullying is an issue in nearly every school and workplace in the country, and the rise in use of social media has made the problem more prevalent, and fighting it even more critical," said Katherine M. Perhach, Quarles & Brady's Milwaukee office managing partner. "Our attorneys and staff are committed to helping create a safe, cruelty-free environment for students who will grow up and pass that kindness on to the next generation."
About Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's Act Now! Program
Act Now! is a continuum of bullying prevention courses that support and enhance Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), are game-based, and align with National Health Education Standards. These fun and engaging programs for grades K4 through 8, developed in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, teach kids how to keep their classrooms and schools safe by creating a bully-free environment. Committed to families across Wisconsin, Children's Hospital created a new online bullying education and prevention resource just for parents, ParentsActNow.com. ParentsActNow.com provides parents with valuable information and effective strategies.
About First Stage Children's Theater
Since 1987, First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through professional theater productions that inspire, enlighten, and entertain; unparalleled Theater Academy training that fosters life skills through stage skills; and dynamic Theater in Education programs that promote active learning in our schools and community. In 2012, First Stage was selected to participate in the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Theatre Wisconsin, and Milwaukee Arts Partners, and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund.