(Auditi Guha, 10/5/2023):
Hate incidents, racism and other forms of harassment in Vermont’s pre-K-12 school system have prompted a coalition of 13 organizations to launch a website to collect and document those experiences among students.
Vermont Narratives of Change is “a storytelling campaign against harassment and bullying” that “seeks to raise awareness about the impact of these negative behaviors and advocate for positive change within schools statewide,” according to the website launched this week.
“What this project does is it allows children and families to tell their stories, to share their truth, and for the community at large to let those children and families know that this is not OK,” said Melissa Houser, a doctor and executive director of All Brains Belong VT, an organization that provides neurodiversity-affirming health care and education.
The Montpelier-based nonprofit is one of 13 organizations that formed the coalition. Students and their families will be able to share their experiences via a secure and confidential form, an interview with one of the members, or in a small group discussion. Participants will also have the option to decide how their information is used, according to a press release from the coalition.
