In partnership with Regional Office of Education #17, Bloomington Normal Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal (NIOTBN) will hold a Not In Our School (NIOS) workshop for local students on 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at the McLean County YWCA, 1201 North Hershey Road. Bloomington.
The mission of Not In Our Town is to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities. NIOS is a natural outgrowth of this mission, working to create safe schools across our country. NIOTBN is affiliated with this national organization, and its supporters pledge to help erase bigotry and bullying from their workplace, from their businesses, from their classrooms and campuses. NIOTBN hopes to foster a more inclusive community for all.
Through the efforts of NIOTBN’s Education Committee, Not In Our School groups are being established at many local schools. Bloomington High School, Bloomington Junior High School, Normal West High School, and Normal Community High School are among those that have adopted NIOSinitiatives. NIOS student members embody the mission, vision, and values of Not In Our Town.
The first local NIOS workshop will:
● Cultivate student leaders representing five local schools;
● Create collaborative alliances among students, schools, and administrations;
● Provide a forum for youth voices and concerns;
● Develop deeper understandings of barriers to safe and inclusive schools;
● Facilitate the identification of actions that will result in safer schools;
● Empower students to be leaders and change agents;
● Identify and provide access to tools and resources that support schools’ efforts; and
● Create a structure for sustainability of collaboration among schools.
The Regional Office of Education #17 is partnering with NIOS and assisting with this workshop. YWCA leadership, ROE #17 staff, local police chiefs, and superintendents, principals, and staff of participating schools are among those who will participate in this collaborative workshop.