Council Member Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), in partnership with IlluminArt Productions and the Staten Island Mental Health Society (SIMHS), is hosting an anti-bullying workshop for parents at I.S. 24 in Great Kills.

IlluminArt is going to be putting on a production aimed at broadening the perspectives of audience members and providing examples to analyze and navigate as a group during the subsequent Q&A panel. Fern Zagor, President and CEO of the SIMHS is going to be moderator for a panel of experts from the mental health and education fields that will be on hand to take questions from attendees and dispense advice on how to engage school administration and leverage all available resources to minimize the effects of bullying on your child, whether he or she is the bully or the bullied.

Parents may RSVP by calling Council Member Borelli’s office at (718) 984-5151 or emailing Borelli@council.nyc.gov

“I know that bullying today is not the same as bullying when I was in school,” said Borelli. “It’s relentless now. It continues well after the school day is over and kids go home. I know it’s difficult for parents too, and I want to make sure that they have the resources and knowledge they need to engage their child on this and to provide a positive environment outside of school.”

According to Arlene Sorkin, Executive Director of IlluminArt Productions, “We appreciate the opportunity for our touring company to present vignettes to parents about real-life situations their children and teens encounter which will open up a dialogue about practical solutions.”

“We know that bullying affects the entire family. It has significant psychological and biological short and long-term consequences for children whether they are the target, perpetrator, or even just a bystander. It’s wonderful that Council Member Borelli is providing this opportunity for parents and community members to come together to look at bullying and what we can do to address it,” said Fern Zagor, President of SIMHS.