Community Matters Blog

Creating Safer Schools by Improving School Climate

Current Research and years of study have demonstrated the importance of a positive school climate as the foundational building block for achieving educational success - safe and high-performing schools. Yet today, few schools have a comprehensive school climate improvement plan designed to serve as the guiding document for strengthening the organizational culture and fulfilling their educational mandates. In this article we explore the fundamental components needed to create a positive school climate.

Building Safer Schools from the Inside-Out and Why That Matters

The scope of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the depth of our collective pain makes it very difficult to write about. But we cannot ignore the facts that there have been nearly 70 school shootings in the past 20 years. We must renew our dialogue, challenge old assumptions and take effective and immediate action. From our grief must emerge a strengthened resolve to protect our children and make our schools safer. To do that requires the courage to look beyond increased security as the complete answer. This article will discusses the challenges facing schools today and why School Climate matters.

National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time when we are reminded of the importance of preventing and stopping bullying from happening in our schools and communities.

Bus Monitor Bullied by Middle Schoolers: A Call to Action

An elderly bus monitor recently made headlines when she was bullied by a group of middle school students. This incident dramatically illustrates the mutating nature and scope of the bullying virus. It’s getting younger, meaner, more electronic and more acceptable in youth culture.

The Epidemic of Silence: How We Can End It

In more than 85% of bullying situations there are witnesses, and more often than not, these bystanders do not say or do anything. The effect of their silence is “deafening”, because silence is a form of consent. It emboldens the bully who perceives the silence of others as permission and tacit approval of their actions.

10 Ways You Can Help To Stop Bullying

We have a choice. We can be overwhelmed by the size and scope of the issue and do nothing, or we can wake up our courage and do something that contributes to making things better.

‘Bully’ movie opens Friday,  March 30th - Waking Up Courage is the Solution to Stopping Bullying

The new movie “Bully” opens March 30th in major cities nationwide. The film documents bullying between real kids and outlines the extent of the bullying epidemic. But solutions do exist – in the form of programs like Safe School Ambassadors that awaken the courage of bystanders to speak up when they see bullying occur.

Rick Phillips Speaks On Bullying at the Clinton School of Public Service

The Clinton School of Public Service invited Rick Phillips, Executive Director of Community Matters as one of their Distinguished Speakers for their series of public lectures in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Safe School Ambassadors school nationally recognized for its tolerance efforts

Mesa Linda Middle School in Victorville, CA was recognized as a “Mix It Up” Model School by the Teaching Tolerance Project.

Straight Talk TNT - Teens ‘n Twenties Publishes Article Praising Safe School Ambassadors Program

Lauren Forcella, founder and editor of the website Straight Talk TNT: Teens ‘n Twenties, has written and published an article on her site praising the effectiveness of the Safe School Ambassadors program.

Rick Phillips - Keynote Speaker at the National School Board Association Conference

Rick Phillips presented a two-hour keynote at the National School Board Association’s 71st Annual Conference on Saturday, April 8, held at the San Francisco Moscone Convention Center.

SSA program Evaluation Report shows positive results

A multi-year evaluation of the Safe School Ambassadors (SSA) program has been completed, with some very exciting and gratifying results.

We Can Do Something About Bullying!

On Thursday, March 10, President Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama hosted in the White House East Room, a first-ever White House Summit on Bullying.

Dateline NBC “My Kid Would Never Bully”

On March 6 at 7pm, Dateline NBC aired a captivating program about bullying, that I encourage everyone to watch.

Community Matters posts two actions on MTV’s “Draw Your Line”

Community Matters, along with Hollywood stars like Justin Bieber, took a stand against cyberbullying and bullying by posting two actions on MTV’s “Draw Your Line”, a virtual map tracking actions taken across the United States to stop digital abuse.