Norwalk High School stands up to bullying

Peace Works, an anti-bullying organization from Norwalk High School led by founder and president, Jessica Jaramillo and vice-president, Ana Lucia Galarza, is promoting that the whole student body as well as staff wear pink shirts this Wednesday, February 27, to raise awareness against bullying. Peace Works will also have an exhibit in the main lobby displaying body art photography of Peace Works' models titled, "Thoughts of a Teen."

Peace Works' mission is to promote an environment of respect, emphasizing in anti-bullying. Bullying statistics show that 1 out of 10 high school students who drop out of school do so because of repeated bullying. Peace Works will like to take this day to show the community that NHS stands up to bullying and encourages students to look after one another so that each and every student has a memorable high school career that culminates on their graduation day.

Wearing pink is the main event happening on Wednesday 2/27. Peace Works is promoting a cause called Pink Shirt Day, an idea the organization took from two boys who had a friend who was harased for wearing pink. They distributed pink shirts to all of the boys in their school to stand up for their friend and then their message of respect and "pink shirt" idea has spread nationally, all the way to Norwalk High School. 

Peace Works will display some pictures of the "Thoughts of a Teen" body art photography collection at school, but all of the photos will be posted on the Facebook page. Doing the photo shoots for our organization was very important because the models, all Norwalk High students, gained a higher self esteem. Posing for a camera to them allowed them to feel worthy and beautiful like they are. The Peace Works models were also very glad that they were being photographed to encourage others to look beyond the stereotypes, the labels, and the superficial and see them as they really are. 

Please check our Peace Works Facebook page on Wednesday to see the entire collection of body art photography, "Thougths of a Teen."

For more info on Pink Shirt Day: http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/
Peace Works FB page: www.facebook.com/PeaceWorksOrg