In The News

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Annual Unity Awards. The Unity Awards honor individuals and groups, recognizing those who are creating a world without bullying by encouraging others to take action, advocating for those who need support, or acting with kindness to cause a ripple effect in their communities. Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, commented, “The Unity Awards give us a chance to celebrate the individuals of all ages who are helping to make the world a kinder, more inclusive, and more accepting place. We are honored to have the opportunity to recognize these inspiring students, educators, and community members.”

View all recipients

New in 2023! This 70-page comprehensive guide offers information and practical tools students, parents and other adults need to take action. Single copies are $10.

Order the Book

What is important to know about how to address and prevent cyberbullying? This three-version infographic series with audience relevant content for elementary school students, middle and high school students and adults answers that question. The format is designed to share on social media, print for the classroom, and use as an friendly to read resource.

View and download the infographics

Friends of PACER’s Run Walk Roll will be held throughout April, with the goal of collectively circling the world (24,901 miles) to symbolize “moving toward a world without bullying.”

Participate from anywhere, anytime. Teams and individuals can determine their own mileage goal to run, walk, roll, stroll, swim, bike, or hike, logging the distances throughout the month. Every mile contributed will move us one step closer to a world that is kinder, more accepting, and more inclusive for all.

Plus, there is the opportunity to participate in fun activities along the way and win prizes!

Register for Free

Engage kids and teens to “talk about bullying” through filming videos! Inviting all K-12 students, with support from adults, to produce short (one-to-three minute) videos using template scripts for the opportunity to be featured on NBPC websites and viewed by classrooms around the country — plus, win some amazing prizes! This activity is a creative way for adults to engage youth in bullying prevention conversation while involving them in developing resources that can help educate their peers.

Visit “Students with Solutions”

The UNITY AWARDS are a celebration of extraordinary individuals and groups who promote a kinder, more accepting, and more inclusive world to prevent bullying. Examples might include encouraging others to take action, advocating for those who need support, or sharing acts of kindness that cause a ripple effect of positivity in one’s community. Nominate someone who makes a difference and who deserves recognition for their efforts.

Submit a Nomination

The three-version series with audience relevant content for elementary school students, middle and high school students and adults outlines how cyberbullying is defined, along with information on how to prevent and address the behavior.

View the series

Cartoon Network is partnering with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center again, in recognition of October as National Bullying Prevention Month. The cabler has released a new PSA titled “Redraw Your World Without Bullying.” Part of the award-winning national campaign, “Stop Bullying: Speak Up,” the PSA will also be available on all Cartoon Network social platforms, including YouTube and Instagram, beginning Monday (Oct. 3).

Under the network’s “Redraw Your World” tagline, “Redraw Your World Without Bullying” combines real-life kids and original animation plus some Cartoon Network characters, including Craig Williams, Raven, Beast Boy, and Robin. The PSA outlines how to be a successful ally to someone experiencing identity-based bullying, which targets an individual’ identity, such as their race, religion, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation,

Redraw Your World

We celebrate and honor the ten individuals and groups who were selected from hundreds who were nominated by peers to be recognized for their contributions and accomplishments to help prevent bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion for all.

Meet the recipients

• Atoms Matter Student Voice Team, a school group at Alexander Science Center School from Los Angeles, Calif.
• EllaGrace Clinger, a high school student from Shalimar, Fla.
• Edwin Cordero, Sr., a community member from McDonough, Ga.
• DaVonia Lashae Henry, a high school student from Kansas City, Kan.
• Hunter Elementary, an entire elementary school from Brownstown, Mich.
• Outspoken Oaks Upstanders, a school group at River Oaks Academy in Westlake Village, Calif.
• Zack Retka, a high school student from Rosemount, Minn.
• Tony Stowe, an educator from Kansas City, Kan.
• Emma T., a first-grade student from Greenville, Ohio
• Chantelle Vaughn, an educator from Richfield, Minn.

Congratulations to everyone whose videos were selected for the Spring 2022 “Students with Solutions” contest to produce short (one-to-three-minute) videos using template scripts! Producing the videos was a creative opportunity for adults to engage youth in bullying prevention conversation while involving them in developing resources that can help educate their peers.

When Quest Academy was asked, “What impact did creating the video have on those involved?” Their response, “Our students bonded while making this video. They grew in respect for each other’s different gifts and opinions and in confidence for their own. They grew in their ability to collaborate, listen to each other, and compromise with each other.”

Top Entries include:

• Dogwood Elementary | Smithtown, NY
• Jo Anne Hall | Beautiful Soldier Enterprises LLC | Richmond, VA
• Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Upstanders | Yorktown Heights, NY
• Outspoken Oaks, River Oaks Academy | Los Angeles, CA
• Quest Academy | Palatine, IL